On Feb. 19, Salem College hosted its fourth annual Engaging Ethics Art Exhibition: The Lenses on Care and Justice in the Fine Arts Center, supported by Wake Forest University’s Educating Character Initiative and Lilly Endowment Inc. The exhibit was curated by four students: Melissa Giles, Samantha Hogsett, Yarlin Ramirez-Helguera, and Clare Buchanan.
Samantha Hogsett, student curator and The Salemite’s copy and layout editor, explained the importance of the annual exhibit: “The exhibit is a sincere way to facilitate student discussions about Salem College’s ethical touchstones. It helps encourage dialogue, not just between participating students, but also between faculty and alumni. Salem College is very grateful to Wake Forest University’s Educating Character Initiative and Lilly Endowment Inc. for their continued support of the exhibition and our students.
Contributors to the exhibit included members of The Salemite’s staff, poets from The Center for Women Writers, student photographers from the broader Salem College population, student photo-poets from the HHMN/ARTS 220 class led by Dr. Rosa Otero, Dr. Diane Lipsett, and guest lecturer, Tim Auman, and sculpturists from Professor Robinson’s ARTS 220 class.
The Salemite’s exhibit, “The Salemite: Then and Now,” featured over twenty pieces of art created by staff writers and photographers analyzing the way the ethical touchstones, Care and Justice, have been documented throughout the history of Salem College’s student-run newspaper. Salemite staffers seemed to gravitate towards collages when creating their artworks, as clips and excerpts from archived issues of “The Salemite” dating from the 1920s to the 1990s were used in conjunction with current photos of Salemite staff and modern interpretations of Salem College’s campus culture to portray themes of Care and Justice. Common themes throughout “The Salemite: Then and Now” exhibit explored topics on the loss of traditions, grief, friendship, and community-centered justice.
An excerpt from the Salemite’s exhibit description noted Salemite staff “examine what it means to be a part of a historic student-run paper that documents the evolution of care and justice, and reflect on the significance of continuing this legacy.”
Some of The Salemite staff writers and photographers who contributed to “The Salemite: Then and Now” exhibit. Photo Credit: MJ Togni
The Center for Women Writers contributed a series of blackout poetry for the exhibit, while the HHMN/ARTS 220 class submitted over ten pieces of photopoetry focused on “contemplative photography.” Images of snow and ice as seen through the eyes of student photo-poets were scattered throughout this exhibit as well as the exhibit centered on Care and Justice in the broader Winston-Salem area. In Room 240, a slideshow showcasing more work from HHMN/ARTS 220 students circled on loop, allowing a quiet and contemplative place for exhibit viewers to digest and connect with student’s artwork. Moving poetry added to the experience of viewing student’s photography, adding language to photos that declare bravely complicated emotions such as melancholia, nostalgia, and grief. Lastly, the ARTS 220 class paid tribute to trolls in their life-size sculptures of trolls made from chicken wire, cloth, and even cement! The trolls were assembled at the front of the long gallery and shrouded by shrubbery, drawing in lots of attention from exhibit viewers.
Arts 200 Troll Exhibit. Photo Credit: Isabella Wyatt
The opening night of the exhibit on Feb. 19 featured many familiar faces as staff, faculty, students, and alumni gathered in the long gallery of the Fine Arts Center to reflect on the history and impact of care and justice at Salem College. The Salem College choral also made an appearance, singing three songs halfway through the event, emotionally moving the crowd and adding a new, musical perspective to the exhibit. The Engaging Ethics Art Exhibit will be open for viewing until March 19. If you are curious to see more about the curating process, visit The Salemite’s YouTube channel @thesalemite for behind-the-scenes interviews.
