Whitman college Art Exhibition Celebrates Transfer Student Artists
WALLA WALLA, WA – A recent art exhibition at whitman college, titled “The Transfer Collective,” showcased the diverse talents and unique perspectives of students who chose to continue their academic journeys at the liberal arts institution. The show, featuring work created in a variety of mediums, provided a platform for transfer students to connect with peers and the wider Whitman community.
The exhibition highlighted the often-unseen creative lives transfer students lead, even before arriving on campus. Art major Lucas Pinaire ’27, who transferred from Haverford College in Pennsylvania, created a new pen and ink drawing specifically for the show, despite not having prior work readily available. “It makes a lot of difference if someone knows your name and has somthing to associate that with,” Pinaire said.
For Melissa Castro ’27, transferring to Whitman offered increased opportunities to focus on her art. Castro, who utilizes 3D modeling in Blender for digital illustrations, produced much of her exhibited work while balancing roles as a home care aide and receptionist following graduation from Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington. She also expressed a desire to establish a 3D printing club at Whitman.
The exhibition wasn’t just about displaying artwork; it fostered a sense of belonging. Lizzett Zaragoza ’27 noted the unexpected connections formed with fellow transfer students. “I’ll find myself gravitating towards them without even realizing that they’re transfer students,” she explained. “As much as we’re different, we all have that in common. Its pretty nice to find community that way.”
Whitman faculty and the overall campus environment were also key to the positive experiences shared by the artists. Zaragoza, a photographer with over a decade of experience, found the resources and encouragement at Whitman transformative. “Having the resources from Whitman, having my instructors and peers push me to do these things, and being able to have the photos in my hands, changed the way that I see my art in a really good way,” she said.
The exhibition underscored the welcoming atmosphere at Whitman, with Pinaire encouraging incoming transfer students to actively engage with campus life. “I found that the people here genuinely want to be your friend and are very inviting, which wasn’t my experience with my previous school,” he shared. “I feel like I have a great community now.”
According to organizers, “The Transfer Collective” aimed to demonstrate the enriching impact transfer students have on the Whitman community and encourage others considering a transfer to explore the opportunities available at the college.
More data about transferring to Whitman College can be found at https://www.whitman.edu/admission-and-aid/applying-to-whitman/transfer-students.
