Students in the Walsh Gallery
Fairfield students are letting one of their most valuable educational resources pass right under their noses. The university is home to the Bellarmine Hall Art Galleries and the Walsh Gallery, located in the Quick Center, both of which feature exhibitions that rotate every few months. Yet, you don’t hear many students expressing interest, unless they are required to visit for a class.
The word “exhibition” may hold negative connotations for students, who often dismiss it as “boring” or something they must attend for credit. However, I would like to urge students to consider the broader context of these incredible exhibitions. Whether you’re there for a class or visiting on your own time, take a moment for deeper analysis and reflection.
I had the pleasure of attending the “Stitching Time: The Social Justice Collaboration Quilts Project” and “Give Me Life: CPA Prison Arts Program” exhibitions, currently on display in the Walsh Gallery, this past week for my Human Communication Theories course. Both showcases feature pieces by artists who are currently incarcerated, including quilts and drawings as well as crochet. Although I have learned a great deal in class about nonverbal communication as well as the sending and receiving of messages, exploring this exhibition gave me a perspective I would never have grasped from a lecture alone.
I asked Michelle DiMarzo, curator of Education and Academic Engagement at the Fairfield University Art Museum why these exhibitions are so valuable for students.
“It’s always great to see students realize that an approach that they’ve learned about in Communications, Religious Studies or English Lit can actually be applied to the visual art in front of them to draw new conclusions,” she shared.
Fairfield also provides many informational events where students can learn more about the origins and significance of the exhibitions displayed on campus. I attended a lecture last Thursday, where I heard from Wendy Ikemoto, curator of the “Monuments: Commemoration and Controversy” exhibition currently on display in the Bellarmine Hall Galleries. This lecture really proved to me that in-person exhibits are far more meaningful than simply researching one online for a class. The emotion and passion from Ikemoto regarding the topic were evident and made me really look forward to visiting the Monuments exhibit later on.
Seeing students, faculty and community members gather together over a shared interest in art fostered a strong sense of togetherness that I would have missed out on if I had stuck to getting my information from behind a screen. Erin Craw, Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication, agreed: “These exhibitions foster enhanced cultural understanding and engagement with experiences beyond the classroom. The exhibitions provide a space for exploring diverse interpretations and perspectives, which is crucial to shaping lifelong learning and instilling empathy, preparing students to positively impact our communities.”
It only took an hour of my time to enrich my understanding of the art and culture around me. You can swap an hour of doom scrolling on your phone for a more rewarding experience.
DiMarzo also emphasized the importance of discussing these exhibitions with peers. “For me, hearing students’ observations about what they’re seeing always makes me notice something else that I hadn’t before,” she noted. “That’s part of the fun of looking at art with other people. You get to see through their eyes for a moment.” You’re always spending time with your friends around campus, so try using some of that time to obtain new knowledge and have an enlightening conversation.We are only shorting ourselves by not visiting our on-campus exhibitions. A college education is a huge time and financial commitment, so utilizing all the resources Fairfield has to offer will help students make the most of their college years. Craw agreed with this sentiment: “We are incredibly fortunate to have access to such prominent art exhibitions that expand our thinking and prompt meaningful discussions.” All future exhibitions, events, and activities available for students and faculty to experience are listed online at Fairfield.edu/museum.