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The Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts

Summer Institute

Art and Public Space at Vassar and in Poughkeepsie

2021

To kick off the year-long theme of “Looking Back, Looking Forward, and Opening Better,” the 2021 Summer Institute for the Liberal Arts focused on art and public space at Vassar and in Poughkeepsie.

As Vassar continues to explore the development of the physical space that will serve as The Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts, the current moment is an exciting time to consider the role art, architecture, and public space play (and have played) in engaging dialogue and building community. Art, broadly defined, has been cited as a pillar of Poughkeepsie’s civic renewal, and this Summer Institute explored unique partnerships between arts organizations in Poughkeepsie and Vassar. The convening of this two-day, virtual event included panels and lectures from scholars, practitioners, community activists, and local art leadership from nonprofit organizations from Vassar, Poughkeepsie, and beyond.

Panels and Lectures

Prototyping Partnerships

This session took a closer look at some public art partnerships between area colleges and community organizations. The presenters focused on the productive, the challenging, the inspiring, and the uncomfortable in these collaborations.

Partnerships Discussed

  • Celebrating The African Spirit and Colloqate Design
  • Hudson Valley Performing Arts Laboratory and SUNY New Paltz
  • Vassar and Poughkeepsie City School District
  • Center For Creative Education and Bard College

Recorded Presentations

Videos in this playlist

  1. Vassar’s Campus: Landscape Architecture as Art
  2. Designing with Nature
  3. Strengthening Communities Through the Arts

Presenters

A headshot of Asho Ashittey ’23, a person with long black braided hair and a patterned dress.

Asho Ashittey ’23

Early Career Global Affairs Professional

A headshot of Bryant ‘Drew’ Andrews, a person with black curly hair, a mustache, and a black baseball cap with the New York Yankees logo on it.

Bryant “Drew” Andrews

Executive Director of the Kingston, NY-based Center for Creative Education (CCE)

A headshot of Sakinah Bennett, a person with very short black hair.

Sakinah Bennett

Co-founded Sister-2-Sister and Teaching Artist at the Center for Creative Education

A headshot of Liz Dahmen, a person with long black hair and a black sweater.

Liz Dahmen

Founding Artistic Director of the Hudson Valley Performing Arts Laboratory, Director and Writer

A headshot of Kiana Duggan-Haas, a person with long brown hair and a purple shirt.

Kiana Duggan-Haas

Actor and Creative

A headshot of Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt, a person with long black curly hair and a maroon shirt.

Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt

Executive Director, The Art Effect

A headshot of Cara Hunt, a person with long light brown hair and a white shirt.

Cara Hunt ’15

Program Coordinator, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

A headshot of Rick Jones, a person with a blue knitted hat and an orange jacket.

Rick Jones

Laboratory Coordinator

A headshot of Chris Kroner, a person with short brown hair, a graying brown beard, and a black shirt.

Chris Kroner

Principal, MASS Design Group

A headshot of Christine Howlett, a person with long brown hair and a black shirt.

Christine Howlett

Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities

A headshot of Bryan Lee, a person with short black curly hair, thin black facial hair, and a black and gray shirt.

Bryan Lee

Architect, Educator, Writer, and Design Justice activist. Founder/Design Principal, Colloqate Design

A headshot of Carmen McGill, a person with short curly black hair, a red shirt, and large earrings.

Carmen Marchaline McGill

Co-Founder and Board Chair, Celebrating the African Spirit

A headshot of Mark Schlessman, a person with a shaved head, a thin beard, and a light blue button-down shirt.

Mark Schlessman

Professor Emeritus of Biology

A headshot of Bart Thurber, a person with short brown hair, a short gray beard, and a dark jacket.

Bart Thurber

The Anne Hendricks Bass Director of the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center and Lecturer in Art

A headshot of Adedoyin Teriba, a person with black curly hair, a large beard, and a brown jacket.

Adedoyin Teriba

Assistant Professor of Art History, Dartmouth College

The Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts
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