Elizabeth Massa’s artwork, where Suminagashi intersects with printmaking techniques, on display during her residency at The Gallery. PHOTO | Valerie Mulrine
Inside a room usually reserved for paintings and sculptures, a small group of students and faculty gathered for something more abstract than visual art: an experience in identity.
“The Politics of Identity: Understanding Intersectionality in Turbulent Times” event, held at the Mercer Gallery on March 12, was Mercer’s first faculty-led workshop outside the traditional visual arts realm. It was also a window into the gallery’s evolving mission.
Connor Peterson, a first-year radiology major who attended, said, “I actually just found out the other day that we had a gallery here at the school, I figured why not come check out what’s happening.” He added, “I didn’t even know what was going to be discussed today, so I was like, have an open mind and see how things go.”
Led by Dr. Edward Avery-Natale, Associate Professor of Sociology, the workshop challenged attendees to think about the role of privilege and oppression in their lives. Through an interactive “Privilege Walk” and open discussion, participants examined how race, gender, class, and other social categories intersect to shape experience.
Dr. Avery-Natale said, “I thought it should be interactive and creative in some way. I wanted to do something other than just talk at people.”
The event was part of a broader transformation at the gallery, spearheaded by Professor of Visual Arts and current Gallery director Lucas Kelly, who is also Interim Dean of Arts and Communication.
“The model of the art gallery as just a place where we go and look at pictures has aged poorly,” Kelly said, adding, “In New York, when you go to an exhibition, it’s not just a whole bunch of artists and collectors. It is a broad range of cultural advocates and cultural producers that end up at an opening reception and having dialogue.”
Kelly continued, “This sort of formalizes it into an academic setting a little bit more, and I think that the college has a responsibility to make sure that such things can still be accessible for students.”
The workshop was also a product of the gallery’s new artist residency program.
Liz Massa, a local artist who is participating in the residency and attended the workshop, said, “I want to be an active part of what’s going on in the Gallery, and as much a part of the community as I could be while I’m here.” Massa said. She continued, “I feel really lucky that I get to do what I love. Not everyone gets to play this hard.”
Another attendee, Interim Dean of Liberal Arts Dr. Chris Cruz-Cullari said, “ I would like the students and faculty and staff to participate more in various activities like [this]. I don’t think we do that enough here. I want to contribute to a reinvigoration of campus life.”
Following the event Connor Peterson said, “I never knew a thing about intersectionality, but doing the [privilege] walk made me realize we all have disadvantages. It made me feel less alone.”
