VACA's unconventional struggle with tradition

Author: Melissa Marshall

With its labyrinthine staircases and industrial open spaces, the Brutalist architecture of the Christian A. Johnson Memorial Building screams as the ideal location for a social event dedicated to a holiday that celebrates the offbeat, the strange and the creative. For three out of the last four years, the Vitality of the Artistic Community Association (VACA) has successfully claimed the space for their annual - and increasingly popular - Halloween bash. This weekend, however, students may be forced to battle out lines at the Bunker or navigate the maze of social houses as a full weekend of visual arts exhibits could render the building off-limits as the venue for the student organization's most anticipated event of the year.

Founded in 1998, VACA fosters an awareness of the visual arts on campus through student exhibitions as well as guest lecturers. Given its contribution and connection to the Middlebury College art community, the organization prides itself on its association with one of the most visually interesting spaces on campus.

"Over the years it has become our most recognizable extension of us as a club," said VACA Co-President Rachael Carrasquillo '09. "The Johnson space is not used by any other organization for anything else, so it has that connection to us as an art club."

Besides its role as an academic building, Johnson Memorial also hosts the largest and most notable exhibition space for works by both student and visiting artists. In addition to "Sculptures in a Form of a Chair" featuring work by Form & Structure in Sculpture students and "Pinhole Photography" showcasing prints by the Black & White Photography class, an exhibition by Cameron Visiting Architect Brian Healey will also be on display in the lobby through the weekend. The College hosts one Cameron Visiting Architect per year, exposing the community to cutting-edge designs and public lectures.

"So far it has gone well and we expect it to continue to do so because of the favorable word of mouth that is going around the circle of potential future candidates," History of Art & Architecture/Studio Art Department Coordinator Monica McCabe wrote in an Oct. 21st e-mail. "Damage to a CVA's work during a Halloween party would be a major strike against what we have going thus far."

McCabe's fears are not unfounded. In 2005, student work from Professor of Studio Art Eric Nelson's class suffered damages after a former student sat in several of the chairs and, more recently, two students were arrested in connection with an altercation with officers from the College's Department of Public Safety during the 2007 Halloween party.

VACA Co-President Alex Benepe '09, however, has outlined a number of steps to prevent the recurrence of former incidents, including covering the walls, blocking off areas and even removing artwork for the evening.

"In my mind, as long as nothing is damaged, everything is put away safely and there are people who are willing to do it at no inconvenience to the professors with the work not missing viewing time, I don't see what the big deal is," said Benepe.

The movement and subsequent re-installation of three exhibitions will require dedication, manpower and the approval of both artists and professors - a goal that Benepe continues to diligently work towards.

"I appreciate the Art Department's willingness to negotiate with me, even though it is interrupting its schedule," said Benepe.

Despite the inconvenience, Benepe hopes that the College will recognize the importance of available student social outlets - especially on a day as widely celebrated as Halloween. While MCAB and the Commons system provide week--end events, they are often sparsely attended, and with a capacity of 250 people, students face getting turned away from the Bunker.

"Halloween is a party night - and it would suck for everyone, students and Public Safety alike, if there weren't several large venues where students could celebrate," said Benepe.

The Studio Art Department seems less than assured, despite Benepe's earnest proposal.

"The reality is, you are unfortunately requesting to use the space on a weekend when we have more student (and visiting artist) work up than on a typical weekend," McCabe wrote to Benepe in an email on Oct. 20. "If VACA is all about a vital artistic community it seems logical that you would support keeping work up, not taking it down."

Benepe, while understanding the seeming paradox in the organization's request, argues that the Halloween party creates foot traffic in a building many students would never have the occasion to enter during their academic career.

The alternate location for the popular student tradition would be The Mill - a move that VACA leaders fear will undermine the unique vibe of the VACA event.

"The great thing about the Johnson Halloween party is that it gets all types of students, whereas many students don't go to Mill parties on principle," Benepe said. "The Johnson space is more neutral."

"If we have this party at the Mill, it will just become another Mill party - it won't be the VACA party," added Carrasquillo. "We need to bring the party back into something positive rather than all the negative hype it has assembled over the years."