Expanding the Art Scene Beyond Steel Plant

Emalia LeClerc '25 stands with her work included in the senior capping show. Photo courtesy Emalia LeClerc '25

The latest art senior capping exhibition “This Place” not only displays student work within the building in which the pieces were created but also adds an artistic touch to other buildings on campus. 

Student pieces were displayed in areas such as McCann Arena, the Student Center and Lowell Thomas. This is part of a larger intent of bringing a stronger awareness to the art scene at Marist College. 

“We are such a small program, the students wanted to spread the word that we exist,” said the group’s capping professor Malgorzata Oakes, assistant professor of studio art. “They wanted to show their appreciation for this place and highlight the community as a part of their journey in who they are as artists.” 

Students Sierra Smart ‘25 and Kellen Fletcher ‘25 are a few of those in the course who spread their work across campus.

Fletcher, studying a wide variety of graphic art and media, used his skills learned over the past four years to create a video circling around the swimming pool. “I’m an athlete, and I spend a lot of time in McCann, so I decided to do a video just showing what athletes are doing in and out, the life cycle of the center,” said Fletcher. 

Smart displayed black and white photographs in Lowell Thomas alongside two paintings displayed in the gallery. “I have two oil paintings on display, one is of Saint Peters and the other being Fern Tor,” Smart said.

“I was thinking specifically about the school’s initiative with the Sustainability Act Plan because there are people here building a plan for it, so it’s a pretty crucial stage for the direction of the future regeneration and sustainability,” Smart said.

With this in mind, Smart painted one of the most natural and beautiful parts of campus, the Fern Tor nature preserve. In her second painting, she created a fiery image of Saint Peters as a warning if we don’t act on climate change. 

Other students accredited the area surrounding the college, and others specified on the people in it. Emalia LeClerc ‘25 created nine acrylic profile portraits of the people who contributed to her experience.

“I created portraits of people who I felt as if they were most impactful on my time here at Marist College,” said LeClerc. “There have been so many people who have influenced me within my studies and art, so I felt like the best way to thank them was to paint them.” 

Portraits consisted of art department staff such as Julia Whitney Barnes, Edward Smith and Carl Grauer. Ot portraits included Victoria Morales, Ais Oisín and Cheryl Elmendorf. 

“I think this opportunity gives us the ability to create conversations with others about art, but also hopefully brings a fresh perspective and a smile during finals week,” Oakes said.