Throngs of people poured into the de Young Museum on Nov. 14 for College Night, a biannual event that gives local university students an opportunity to showcase work at the popular San Francisco art museum.

The event’s theme, “A Tribute to Asian American Art and Cultural Expressions,” gave artists an opportunity to examine different issues that Asian Americans face when they live in the United States. A wide array of art created by local university students, including four from SF State, filled the foyer of the museum. The one-night-only event gave onlookers and visitors to the museum an opportunity to view art from local, up-and-coming artists.

Different paintings, glass sculptures, photographs and fabric designs were on display with many of the artists nearby, ready to talk to interested viewers.

“The de Young is widely regarded as San Francisco’s premier fine arts institution and students are normally really excited to show their art at the museum,” said Robert Melton, College Night project coordinator.

SF State students who showcased their art said they were glad to be given the opportunity to present their work at such a distinguished artistic and cultural edifice.

“The de Young is very prestigious. It’s truly a great honor to be here,” said Jenn Hernandez, a fifth-year art student at SF State, who had some of her work on display.

Hernandez said having students from SF State presenting their art at the de Young is a great way for the university to be associated with a fine arts institution.

John Clothier, an SF State art grad student showed a blown glass piece titled “Restrained.”

The evening’s theme gave artists an opportunity to show work that is culturally significant to San Francisco, he said.

“The piece is fairly Asian in style,” Clothier said, referring to his petite glass sculpture that had been wrapped in stainless steel wiring and lit from the structure’s base. “I felt like it was the perfect piece to show.”

Out of nearly 45 individuals who submitted art to be shown at this past week’s College Night, a jury chose 35 works to be showcased.

The artists were encouraged to focus on different struggles, contributions and cultural distinctions that reflect the Asian American experience, Melton said.

“We urge schools and students to take advantage of this opportunity to be able to show art here at the de Young,” Melton said. “This really is a great way for people to get to know local university artists.”

College Night at the de Young has been going on for the past nine years and admission is always free for students and faculty of Bay Area universities and colleges, said Andrea Martin, one of the museum’s staff educators.

The de Young hosts the biannual event every fall and spring because the museum wants to help foster creative and original artwork at different educational institutions around San Francisco, Melton said.

“We’re looking forward to this upcoming spring’s event. The theme is going to be centered around Andy Warhol,” Melton said. Past themes have included fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and British modern artists Gilbert and George.

Christine Parker, a fashion design student at SF State, displayed a work of hers called “Nesting,” which she said looks at different animals’ need to nurture.

“Nesting” is a collection of oversized origami cranes that were created from different fabrics and rice paper. The white origami birds floated in mid-air, held up by fishing line attached to a rebar structure. She said Asian American artists inspired this work.

“I made [“Nesting”] to fit the mold of this evening,” Parker said. “I’m really privileged to be able to showcase it at such an amazing building.”

“Students are always really excited to see their art up,” Martin said. “It makes them feel good to be able to say, ‘I’m showing my work at the de Young.’”

Erin Palmerton, an environmental studies junior at SF State and visitor to the museum, echoed Martin’s sentiments.

“It must be really cool for a college student to show their work at the de Young,” Palmerton said. “There are a lot of people here that are getting exposed to art that they would normally never see.”