UMass Boston Hosts First-Ever Alumni Art Exhibition
The University Hall Gallery at UMass Boston hosted its inaugural alumni art exhibition and reception this past spring. Aptly named Looking Back, Facing Forward, the exhibition showcased over 40 pieces from 31 alumni, whose class years span over five decades.
University Hall Gallery Director Samuel Toabe said the idea to host an alumni exhibition stemmed from a long-standing desire to showcase the diverse voices and skills of UMass Boston alumni artists.
“This exhibition showed us how important art and creativity are to our alumni,” he said. “Having art in our lives, no matter what our primary specialties might be, helps with creative problem solving, developing empathy, and provides people with a healthier and more balanced life.”
In addition to this being the first-ever UMass Boston alumni art exhibition, it also marked the debut of students taking on the gallery’s curatorial process for a large-scale show. Gallery Assistants Hunter Murphy ’24, Erika Perez ’24, Willa Schanback ’26, and Isabella Slonka ’26, under the mentorship of Toabe, were tasked with selecting, arranging, and categorizing the pieces that appeared in the show.
"All exhibitions take months if not years of preparation to be executed properly as there are so many creative and administrative choices to be made," said Toabe. "It was a steep learning curve, but they handled it with enthusiasm, confidence, and persistence."
Barbara Hebard ’75, a skilled bookbinder whose work has been showcased at nearly 100 exhibitions around the world, said she was thrilled to have her work on display at her alma mater.
“I was elated, glad that UMass was open both to book arts and to work done by alumni who had graduated so many years ago,” she said. “The exhibition should help viewers, particularly current students, see not only the diversity of the works, but also the variety of courses of study completed by the alumni. Regardless of their major, UMass Boston alumni have a strong love of the arts and express that in multiple forms of media.”
Nick Zaremba ’01—a mixed-media artist whose portfolio includes illustration, printmaking, graphic design, and site-specific 3D installations—said he hopes the exhibition inspired inward reflection among gallery visitors.
“I’m proud of my school for having a continuously active beautiful gallery space on campus,” he said, adding that such spaces are vital to the university experience. “I’m grateful to be part of such a diverse list of alumni artists and honored to have taken part in this exhibition.”
As a student, Slonka said she found it comforting to see how art still plays a role in the lives of UMass Boston alumni.
“When speaking to many of our artists, I noticed what an impact their time at UMass Boston had on their art and careers,” she said. “I feel that it is important to highlight the success stories of our alumni through their art.”
The following alumni were featured in Looking Back, Facing Forward: Jeremy Ackman ’12; David R. Andresen ’71; Adam Augello ’17; Saida Cora ’18; Charlie Crowell ’13; Kathleen P. Dunn ’83; Russell Dupont ’71; Katie Fitzpatrick ’07; Lisa Gualtieri ’79; Howard Thomas Hay ’21; Barbara Adams Hebard ’75; Rachelle Jeanty CER’17, G’19; Corey Jones ’13; Farrin Khan ’21; Jennifer Kufchak ’03; Erika Lopez-Torres ’21; Heather MacLean G’21; Edward Maglott ’87; Sylvain Malfroy-Camine ’17; Derek Mangus ’05; Patrice McInnis ’92, CER’21; Stephen Molloy ’76; Maureen Murphy ’77; Sarah Newcomb G’04; Merlo Philiossaint ’13; Jesus Pizarro ’18; Deborah Sacon G’92; Maria Servellon ’12; Dorothy Walsh ’76; Hsin-Ching Wu PhD’20; and Nick Zaremba ’01.