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The goal of my art is to depict that, while memory can be ephemeral, one’s core identities can remain stable. Being a Studio Art and Psychology double major, my drawings are heavily grounded on theories that relate to the frailty of memory, such as the modification of memories upon recall and the subjective experience of memory. I am particularly inspired by my proximity with my grandmother and her experience with Lewy body dementia, which is characterized by memory loss, delusions, and paranoia. I draw “portraits” of her using traditional Greek textiles that point to her generation and Greek identity. My...

My art is a manifestation of my subconscious thought—a representation of the constant conflict between my two selves: the self that so desperately craves structure and order, and the self that is completely incapable of any kind of organization; the self that longs for certainty, and the self that charges blindly into the unknown. On paper surfaces I capture various chemical reactions, balancing precision and geometry as the foundation of my installations. I create my own rendered dyes from foraged materials and react those dyes with various household chemicals, yielding an unexpected color pallet and crystalline, rust-like textures.  My background...

This week, gallery intern Sarah Willoughby ’25 had the opportunity to interview Davidson College alum Daphne Butler Birdsey ’06. Daphne received a B.A. in political science at Davidson College in 2006. After college, Daphne pursued a career in fundraising, including over 13 years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, during which she received an M.A. in Visual Art Administration from New York University. She eventually assumed the role of Deputy Chief Development Officer for the Director's Office. Most recently, she has moved to Williamstown, MA to work as Chief Advancement Officer at the Clark Art Institute. In this interview, Daphne...

Meet Molly Smith, one of our new interns on staff at the Van Every/Smith Galleries! Molly Smith is a Sophomore at Davidson College from Nashville, Tennessee. She is a Classical Languages & Literature major. Molly wanted to work in the gallery because of her work at home. In Nashville, Molly teaches kids art. Having a job in tune with the craft side of things made her crave a focus on art’s conceptual side. Molly believes museum spaces are already designed to spur ideas and questions, but getting to see the back of the tapestry — perusing the gallery archive or...