‘The Transfer Collective’: Art Show Spotlights the Creativity of Whitman Transfer Students

Transferring to Whitman College can open up unexpected opportunities—as a recent group of transfer students to the Art program discovered when they found a unique way to introduce themselves to the Whitman community.  

“The Transfer Collective”—an exhibition of artwork that appeared in the Fouts Center for Visual Arts Sept. 24 to Oct. 3—highlighted the diverse perspectives and experiences of seven Whitman transfer students. The exhibition showcased artwork the students made at prior colleges, between schools and during their time at Whitman. 

“It’s a reflection of what it means to be a transfer student: getting into new spaces, being seen and contributing to Whitman,” says Lizzett Zaragoza ’27, an Art major who transferred from Walla Walla Community College (WWCC). “I’m really grateful for the support that I’ve had here from my peers and instructors—and for the chance to show my work in this way.” 

A community of artists. Left: Assistant Professor of Art Deshun Peoples looks at an upcycled mixed media jacket created by Carmen Nally ’26. Right: A mixed media sculpture by Eliza Van De Rostyne ’27 hangs in the foreground while the artists view photography by Lizzett Zaragoza ’27 and mixed media works by Nicole Drader ’26 in the background.

Being Seen in New Spaces

“The Transfer Collective” show was the brainchild of Art major Carmen Nally ’26, who also transferred to Whitman from WWCC. Nally collaborated with Associate Professor of Art and Paul Garrett Fellow Maria Lux to create the exhibition, which featured Nally’s paintings and mixed media upcycled jackets. Ben Selby, Studio and Safety Technician in Fouts, worked with the students to curate and install their work in the gallery space. 

“It was a great experience, and I’m so glad that there were other transfer students who got to be a part of it,” says Nally.

Art major Erin Gauley ’26 was grateful for the opportunity to show the acrylic paintings  she made at WWCC to her Whitman professors. 

“It’s nice to be seen a little bit more, for the professors to see our work and know us a little better through it,” Gauley says.

“It makes a lot of difference if someone knows your name and has something to associate that with,” agrees Art major Lucas Pinaire ’27, who transferred to Whitman after one year at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. He was excited about the show but didn’t have any previous work with him, so he created a new pen and ink drawing specifically for the exhibition.

Melissa Castro ’27, who works with 3D modeling in Blender to compose digital illustrations, made most of the art that appeared in the show while working as a home care aide and receptionist in the years between graduating from Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington, and transferring to Whitman. Transferring has given her a chance to explore her art more—and she hopes to start a 3D printing club at Whitman. 

Many Pathways to Community

In addition to sharing their artwork, “The Transfer Collective” exhibition created an opportunity for these transfer students to connect with each other. Zaragoza remembers meeting some of the other students in classes and feeling the connection of a shared experience. 

“I’ll find myself gravitating towards them without even realizing that they’re transfer students,” she says. “As much as we’re different, we all have that in common. It’s pretty nice to find community that way.” 

Pinaire appreciates the welcoming atmosphere at Whitman. He encourages transfer students to keep trying to find friends and to get involved in as many clubs and groups as possible. 

“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 says. “I feel like I have a great community now.”

Nally recognizes that changing schools can be difficult, but encourages transfer students to find out what Whitman has to offer.

“Once you settle in, you’re really going to be enriched by Whitman. You’re going to learn things you cannot learn anywhere else,” she says. 

Zaragoza knows how transformative those opportunities can be. Not only did “The Transfer Collective” exhibition give her a chance to show her photography, it changed the way she approaches her work. 

“I have been doing photography for over 10 years, and I’ve never printed my work before,” she says. “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.”

Explore more stories about transferring to Whitman.