Clark Students and Faculty Exhibit at Downtown Gallery
On a sunny spring evening this past Friday, May 2, Clark art students, faculty, and Foundation staff gathered at Art at the Cave for the opening of “The Day After Tomorrow: Art and Mentorship at Clark College”. It’s a benefit exhibition supporting the College via the Foundation through the sales of exhibited works.
The exhibit, organized by the Foundation, the Art Department, and Art at the Cave under the Arts@Clark initiative, explores the relationship between mentors and mentees.
How Faculty and Students Worked Together
Faculty and student artists were paired to work in parallel over the past several weeks. The gallery then displayed the art side by side in the gallery. For most of the students, this was the very first gallery exhibition of their work.
Gabe Parque, one of the faculty members, said, “I like to see what the students are interested in then guide them… Alex is very good at taking my advice or not.”
Alex Frederickson, Gabe’s student mentee, laughed at the observation and said that of all the faculty members they’ve worked with, Gabe’s instructional style works the best for her.
Another faculty mentor, Kendra Larson, shared that her collaboration with student Hana Lowenthal involved ‘a lot of texting.’ She noted that they share a similar creative process—producing a large volume of work, then selecting the best pieces to exhibit.
How Arts@Clark Made it Happen
Ruth Wikler, Clark College Foundation’s inaugural Director of Arts Programming, Partnerships, & Philanthropy, worked with gallery owner Anne John to design the event. She said, “Through my role at Clark College Foundation, I have the privilege of helping bridge College and Community through the arts in ways that are both innovative and inspiring… This effort has been more than a year in the making, and it has come to fruition through a unique collaboration.”
She added, “The exhibit’s focus on mentorship—pairing faculty with students—beautifully reflects Clark’s mission and the transformational power of arts education. Witnessing the impact of this work come to life at Friday’s opening was an unforgettable moment of shared joy and pride.”
Organizers shared, however, that the show is only “the first of many collaborations between Clark College Arts programs, Clark College Foundation, and the community of Southwest Washington under the new Arts@Clark initiative.”
About Arts@Clark
Arts@Clark is a new initiative that unites Clark College’s arts programs, the Clark College Foundation, and the Southwest Washington community through the arts. Stay tuned for exciting events coming in summer and fall 2025.
About Art at the Cave
Art at the Cave is a gallery owned by artist Anne John. Located in downtown Vancouver just steps from the library, the gallery is community-centered and beyond rotating gallery exhibits, hosts a variety of arts programming, including a poetry open mic, collage nights, meditation sessions, and more.
Art at the Cave partners with a nonprofit each year to put on an exhibition and donate part of the profits. This year, that beneficiary was the Foundation.
Come Visit the Exhibit Through May 31
The exhibit will be on display through the rest of May.
Art at the Cave
108 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98660
https://artatthecave.com/
Gallery hours:
Tuesday – Thursday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Photos: Clark College/Carly Rae Zent