Vassar Artists’ Group (VAG) is a growing community of student artists. Led by Gracie Chang, Leo Valenti and Phineas Cashman, members of the Class of 2026, the group became an official organization last March. Since then, they have amassed a mailing list of 400 students, beautified the Deece, purchased communal art supplies and hosted regular artmaking sessions. I sat down last weekend with two founding members to discuss the genesis and future of VAG.
Chang, a psychology major with a correlate in studio art, has been making art their whole life. They hope to use this passion to pursue a career in art therapy. As a first-year at Vassar, Chang became frustrated with the lack of access to artmaking spaces and supplies, particularly because she was not enrolled in “Drawing I,” a full-year course that serves as a prerequisite for nearly every class offered by the Art Department, including photography, painting, sculpture, printmaking, video art and digital art. Even students who wish to take non-drawing courses must first commit to a full year of “Drawing I,” a laborious undertaking.
Both Chang and Cashman worry that this prerequisite is not feasible for many students. Students cannot join the class during the spring semester or drop it after the fall semester. Furthermore, the Art Department does not allow students who, like Chang, have an AP Drawing credit, to bypass this prerequisite. “I was really frustrated because I had no resources, no space and no means of making art. I had to do that all by myself,” Chang told me. “I wanted to double major [in art], which was my original goal, and now I have to make it a correlate because I no longer have time.”
Cashman only started making art at the end of high school. “Drawing I” is their first formal art class. “Similar to Gracie, since I wasn’t in art classes, I didn’t have any opportunities to do this,” Cashman explained. “Gracie can attest—last year I would just paint in my room, and it got so disgusting.” Gracie wrinkled her nose and laughed, recalling the apparently noxious paint fumes that once filled Cashman’s dorm room.
Cashman, a media studies major with a correlate in Chinese, firmly believes that Vassar should provide opportunities to students who are passionate about art but are not majoring in it. “Anyone can make art,” Cashman told me. “Art is a reflection of where you are, who you are and when you are.”
I was curious about the organization’s name, which conveniently forms the lewd acronym VAG. I asked them to tell me more about this double entendre. Cashman immediately started laughing. “That’s all Phineas,” Chang said, shaking their head.
“So what’s the deal?” I asked. “You just liked it?”
“It’s a matter of marketing,” Cashman responded, trying to contain a laugh. “Realistically, we should be the Vassar Art Club, but VAG definitely resonates with people more than VAC.” Vassart Art Club, a former student organization, was absorbed by VAG last year after a period of inactivity.
Chang added that the name has helped with promotion. At the club fair this September, students apparently swarmed around the group’s sign, which read VAG in massive red letters. “It’s a name that definitely sits with people… and, I don’t know, it’s funny,” Cashman explained.
With ever-increasing sign-ups, VAG has big plans for the year. Following last year’s Deece Beauty Project, an initiative to display student art in Gordon Commons, VAG will host two more student shows in Gordon Commons: “Doodles” and “Queer Eye Deece Makeover.” “The Deece is common ground. Everybody comes here to eat, everyone comes here to build community and make connections, so it makes perfect sense to put art in here,” Cashman explained.
“Doodles” will open over October Break and remain on display until the end of the semester. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 6. Students are encouraged to put forward their doodles, whether on notebook pages, gum wrappers or canvas. Submissions can be sent to pcashman@vassar.edu or submitted through the QR code available on the many posters scattered throughout campus. Information on “Queer Eye Deece Makeover” will be available later this semester.
VAG’s main priority is to secure a permanent studio space, similar to that of the Ceramics Club, where students can work on continuous projects without having to constantly set them up and take them down. “That way, we’ll actually have a space of our own,” Chang said, smiling at the thought. Other hopes for the future include creating murals on campus, hosting tailored art workshops and partnering with other student organizations. In the meantime, VAG hosts office hours four times a week in the Lathrop MPR. All are welcome to enjoy free art supplies, make whatever they like and meet other artistically minded students.
This is an informative and engaging article about the Vassar Artists’ Group (VAG) and their mission to make art more accessible. It’s great to see students passionate about art and creating opportunities for others. The acronym VAG does catch attention, and it’s a clever marketing move. Looking forward to the “Doodles” and “Queer Eye Deece Makeover” exhibits – a fantastic initiative to bring art to the community. Keep up the creative work, VAG!