Ella Carey and Haven Socha view the “Death of Abel.”
Caroline Kurt | Collegian

 

In 1995 graduate Nate Stewart’s high-ceilinged living room, students crowded around a large, dark canvas of a crucifixion scene: “The Sign of Jonah” by a contemporary Russian artist. One pointed out an obscure face in the background. Another wondered about the symbolism of the torches in the composition. A third observed Biblical connections between the death of Christ and the account of Jonah. 

Students at the house of a local alumnus gathered for art critique as part of an event sponsored by Hillsdale’s 1844 Society. 

The night revolved around one primary question: What do you see when you look at a piece of art? 

The event drew several dozen — faculty members, alumni, and students, few of whom were art majors. Kaeleigh Di Cello ’24, Hillsdale’s young alumni programs coordinator, said the 1844 Society held the event as part of its Continued Conversations series. 

“The series is an opportunity for students to get together with either staff or faculty to be able to continue the conversation outside of the classroom, outside of campus, in a more relaxed setting,” Di Cello said. 

According to Di Cello, the event’s activity is usually left up to the faculty members who host it. 

“We encourage them to do something near and dear to their heart that they can share with the students,” Di Cello said. 

When Stewart moved from Washington, D.C., to Manning Street two years ago, he reached out to the 1844 Society. 

“Our intent in coming here was always to somehow integrate with campus life and make the house and make ourselves available for whoever needed it,” Stewart said. 

He came up with an idea involving his extensive art collection, which he displays throughout his house.

“It seems to me that so much of the fine arts take place down the hill,” Stewart said. “How do we either bring the art up the hill or bring the students down the hill?” 

Stewart settled on a “what do you see” party, in which students, faculty, and staff could take a closer look at some of his collection. According to Stewart, the 1844 Society deliberately selected two professors outside of the art department to guide the critique: Matthew Gaetano, associate professor of history, and Justin Jackson, chair and professor of English. 

“They’re not approaching these paintings from a technical standpoint,” Stewart said. “They’re approaching it from a narrative standpoint.”

Gaetano said he enjoyed the opportunity to discuss a work of art he was not familiar with, compared with classes in which the professor has extensive experience with a text beforehand.

“It is really great to have a free-wheeling conversation where we’re more or less on the same sort of level,” Gaetano said. “It’s a real joy to actually be part of that original thrill of discovery.”

Jackson said he enjoyed the art critique, but had a different purpose as well. 

“It was an excuse for me to make Matt hang out with me,” Jackson said. 

Some of Stewart’s paintings and drawings are scheduled to come to campus next semester as “Story Beautiful: Selections from the Stewart Collection.” The exhibit will open in the Daughtrey Art Gallery Jan. 24 and run through March 23.