One of my favorite times of the fall semester is here again: Vassar Artist Group’s (VAG) themeless student art exhibit in Gordon Commons (the Deece). As always, I am endlessly impressed. Our student body is very talented, and the exhibits are always arranged so thoughtfully, with this year being no exception.
The sheer range of materials represented is astounding. This exhibit features everything from digital art to watercolor, oil pastel to collage and even embroidery floss and fabric with acrylic paint, as seen in Tasi’s “Bombshell.” It pops out from the wall in an exciting bloom of textures and colors, and the expressive embroidered face surrounded by swaths of fabric, full of life. My only complaint is that it is too far up the wall for me to reach out and touch it.
That desire to get up close and see the details was completely satisfied with “Robyn” by Jaron Milman ’28, a large portrait in watercolor, collage and colored pencil. I could have studied the piece for hours. The subject, dressed in richly patterned clothes, stands beside a yellow bicycle, their expression calm and confident. The shading work is incredible, with layers of color adding depth to each curve of the face and straight edge of the bicycle’s frame. The precision and care poured into every inch of this piece is obvious and truly commendable. It is truly inspiring to be able to look at a work of art and practically see every hour that went into it.
Beyond technical skill, this show is brimming with emotion. One of the most striking examples is “Forgetfullness,” a large digital print by M. Berk Meral ’28. The piece depicts a faceless, shapeless figure whose head is pierced by jagged streaks of gray, white and black, the backdrop fiery and ominous. In terms of shapes and textures, this piece is simple but so evocative, calling to mind an assault upon one’s personhood. We do not know what is being forgotten, but it is clear that it is a violent process, a sharp invasion into the subject’s body, blackened and charred as though ravaged by fire. The visceral intensity is impressive and more than a little haunting.
Another piece that stopped me in my tracks was “Frankenstein’s Monster,” a digital painting by Ezrikel. The creature sits hunched in the foreground, wrapped in a blanket, face turned toward the light. His scars are rendered with care, enhancing rather than marring his beauty. The lighting feels real and emotional, golden rays pouring into the shadowy space and illuminating his features. The soft brushwork lends tenderness to a figure so often depicted as grotesque. His expression carried so much emotion, sorrow, desperation, longing and rawness that lingered with me long after I moved on.
“Cloudy Nights,” another digital piece by Kelsey Wang ’28, depicts two women, glamorously bathed in deep tones of blue and purple, their features glowing in faint moonlight. One clasps the other’s hand, holding it up to her lips, and their shared gaze is pensive, an almost cinematic moment of tension and longing. Every brushstroke captures the feeling of something soft and intimate. It is a quiet invitation to step one foot into their world but not fully enter.
On a more whimsical note is “Splash-ed” by Mia Walker ’28, a charming black-and-white composition of paper, ink, watercolor and acrylic markers. It depicts a mountainside town built from bridge to rooftops, disappearing into the clouds above. Tucked into the side of the mountain is a girl’s face, peeking out of the landscape like a child poking her head out from beneath a thick blanket. Her long, dark hair blends into the lines of buildings, and from the top of her head, three black birds take flight. Her large eyes are filled with such exquisite calm that one cannot help but feel it with her. It seems as though she is the one dreaming this world into being, and we get to share the dream with her, stepping into the land her mind creates when she is at rest.
These are just a few of the pieces I loved, and overall, this year’s student art exhibit once again demonstrates what makes this tradition so special: the freedom of themelessness and the imagination of our artists. The show bursts with color, texture and feeling, transforming the Deece’s plain walls and making the space come alive with creativity. As the semester deepens and the days grow darker, it is a joy to take a moment between classes to stop and admire the inspiring work of fellow students.