As my last semester of college comes to an end, I have been thinking about what highlights my experience at St. Olaf. One of the first things that comes to mind is all of the art I have engaged with around campus. All of our buildings, academic and otherwise, are decorated with art of different mediums that were made by people from places all over the world. This aspect of campus has consistently brightened my daily routine as a student here — I am always looking at the art, whether I am on my way to my classes in Holland Hall, or having a meal in the upper seating levels in Stav Hall.
I tend to focus on the art in Buntrock, as I tend to spend most of my time there. Right now, my favorite pieces are from Olivia Jager ’23’s curated series, “Art, Viewer and Space.” This series is displayed in one of the secondary seating areas at the Cage, strategically placed there to reflect the community and engagement aspects of this central student area. The six pieces in the series capture the vibrant energy of St. Olaf, using bold colors and techniques that mirror the lively atmosphere of the campus.
Specifically, “Students Outdoors” by Isabel Bishop stands out from this series. This piece, created in 1977, is an etching on wove cream rives. It is the only piece of this curation that stands in black and white, but it still conveys so much motion and activity. The subjects in the print, the students, seem to move with purpose, each one captured in a moment of transition, as though they are walking between each person’s world. The contrast between the black-and-white etching and the vibrant colors of the other pieces makes it stand out in the space, but it also brings a unique sense of calm and reflection amidst the surrounding energy. The etching’s simplicity allows me to pause and think about the student experience here at St. Olaf — about the connections we make and how the paths we choose are unique to us, but we all have space within the St. Olaf community.
