PROJECT ROOM D

PETER GARFIELD’s THESIS CLASS

FEATURING WORK BY:

Zoé Bergeron, Natalie Rose​ ​Brandt, Kaitlin​ ​DiOrio, Sam​ ​Flayderman, Kaitlyn​ ​Helwig, Di​ ​Hu, Alexis​ ​Marzo, Lucy London​ ​McDonald, Abby​ ​Patterson, Nicole​ ​Schwarze, Claudia​ ​Shaldervan, Ganyu​ ​Zhao

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE:

Zoé Bergeron

In these unprecedented times that have demanded of each of us such a high level of compromise and conformism, I have been blessed by the presence of this group of 12 unique artists. Each of these 12 has pursued their own singular vision with purposeful dedication, establishing for all to witness the distinct individuality of their creative voices.

I am tempted to use such terms as “intrepid,” “determined,” “courageous,” to describe their steady commitment to their individual endeavors. All of these words fall short, however, as they imply some kind of pitched moral battle against evil forces arrayed against us. Neither was there any kind of amnesic denial of the monumental societal challenges.

Instead, there was a sense of acceptance, a positively karmic disregard for the pervasive and pernicious negativity that we have had to come to terms within our daily lives. What better way to respond to the ever-accumulating little indignities?

This is not to say that any of these artists shies away from addressing their personal existential struggles. In some cases these take center stage, but they do so with clear-eyed engagement, reflecting and manifesting the very human and humane desire for honest connection to the self, and thus to others.

My weekly meetings with them over these last eight months have served as a wonderful tonic, and for this I am deeply grateful.

Thank you Zoé, Natalie, Kaitlin D., Sam, Kaitlyn H., Di, Alexis, Lucy, Abby, Nicole, Claudia and Ganyu!

—Peter Garfield