Sadie Porter, Contributing Writer
Spükhaus is an immersive Halloween inspired art exhibition hosted each October at The Anderson, with art created by VCU Art Foundation students.
Spükhaus highlighted AFO students’ journey by showcasing their unique pieces from sculpture and drawing to fashion and video.
Nathan Tersteeg, a VCU academic advisor for Art Foundation, has done the illustration of the Spükhaus skull every year since the first one in 2018.
Each year there is a different theme for Spükhaus — this year’s theme was ‘haunted mindshaft,’ inspired by the scaffolding around The Anderson.
Tersteeg’s illustration included eight notches in the skull to represent the eighth year of Spükhaus.
“These students are kind of brand new to the school and they’re still trying to figure out how to make friends, how to share what they do, how to feel included and special in this environment,” Tersteeg said.
Spükhaus allowed AFO students to form connections with each other and gain outside perspective on their work, according to Tersteeg.
Kendall Liverpool, a third-year photography and film student, volunteered as a ghoul guide for the Spükhaus tours.
Ghoul guides dressed up in costumes and guided the tour groups through the art exhibit in character.
“Many mediums of art were presented at Spükhaus, but what makes it so special is seeing how each student expresses themselves through their work,” Liverpool said.
Some students created spooky videos involving real students and cartoons, giving Spükhaus an individualized flair.
“Spükhaus allows the AFO students to engage more with the creepy side of their artwork,” Liverpool said.
The goal of this event was to invite not just art students to see their peers work, but for everyone to come and enjoy a night of fun, Liverpool said.