Each year, many students graduate St. Michael's with a degree in an arts-oriented field. Often, the decision to pursue that major is driven purely by a love for their chosen craft. After graduation, some may discover that their love cannot translate into a career. For others, their field of study plays a very direct role in their post-graduation plans.
The ARTernative to big business
Four years ago, Chris Vaughn '08 entered his first year at St. Michael's as a business major. In high school, he created VGLNTE, a business venture that offered snowboarding attire and accessories. Vaughn knew he wanted to pursue something in the snow-sports industry, he says. But before long, his plans changed dramatically.
In his second semester, Vaughn took a creative, non-fiction writing class to explore the opposite end of the academic spectrum, he says.
“I was just super stoked on the class. It was a no-rules kind of thing,” Vaughn says.
Soon after, he declared himself an English major with a minor in art. Before then, he hadn't considered himself an artistic person, he says.
“Growing up, I tried to draw all the time and was getting real frustrated,” Vaughn says. “But, I took photography and ceramics. I sat down at a [pottery] wheel and was like, 'I don't want to get up from this.'”
After graduating last May, Vaughn moved into a quaint, one-bedroom apartment in Essex Junction with his girlfriend, Emma Long '08. He continued growing his collection of pottery throughout the summer, and by the end of August, it became evident that he needed an outlet to showcase and sell his work, he says.
“I was getting to a point with my pottery where I was confident in selling it to a larger circle than just friends and family,” Vaughn says.
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Vaughn crafted the ARTernative's wooden sign that hangs outside. After many months of preparation, his vision of an art shop came to fruition.
(Photo by Tyler Machado) |
One floor below their Railroad Street dwelling, a space was for rent. Long's father helped the couple move in and mentioned to Vaughn that the available flat would be “great for a gallery,” Vaughn says. Vaughn saved his earnings and decided he would heed the suggestion.
In the first week of September, Vaughn began preparations for the art shop, which he dubbed “the ARTernative.”
“We kept going back to the idea of being an art shop that's an alternative to big-box, or online,
corporate America shopping,” he says
Although the original goal of the ARTernative was to create a showcase for Vaughn's work, he soon recognized that he would need to take on the work of other, local artists to sustain the store, he says.
“I've been able to meet some really cool people, making some incredible stuff,” Vaughn says. “It's crazy what kind of talent you'll find if you just open your eyes.”
On Saturday, Oct. 18, the ARTernative opened its doors to the public. The shop is a seasonal operation and will close indefinitely on Dec. 21. However, Vaughn vows that it will not be the end for the business. He has received much positive feedback from the community, and hopes to undertake a similar venture next year, he says.
“Even if people see that this isn't stuff of their taste, they're still very complimentary of our efforts, and I think that, in itself, is a sign that we're doing something right.”
From sketchbook to canvas
Emelina Spinelli '08 hails from a family of artists. Her father is a graphic designer, while her mother creates theater scenery. In addition, the Spinellis jointly own Saratoga Flag Company, a business that creates “banners, flags, anything under the sun,” Emelina says.
Spinelli graduated St. Michael's with a music major and a minor in art and journalism. For her, art has always remained a part of life, she says.
“I've been drawing since I was a kid,” Spinelli says. “I fly though sketchbooks. Then, I take those ideas and move them into a painting, and expand upon them.”
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Emelina Spinelli '08 stands next to her series of musically-themed pieces. She works on a series simultaneously, moving her attention from one composition to the next, she says.
(Photo by Tyler Machad0) |
Last month, Spinelli's work was on display at Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Tea in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Currently, her pieces reside in Albany, N.Y., and next month they will be exhibited at the Radio Bean in downtown Burlington, she says.
Spinelli's family is originally from New York City. As such, much of her work is urban-inspired, she says. She particularly enjoys graffiti art, which is evident in her work's abundance of “natural paint drips and spatter,” she says.
“You walk down to the South Bronx and check out the trains, the artwork that's splayed out on them,” Spinelli says. “It's just really raw. They make this huge piece, knowing that it's not necessarily going to be destroyed, but changed over time.”
Artistic expression, regardless of the medium, is a fundamental part of who Spinelli is, she says. In addition to saxophone and piano, she recently started playing the flute and clarinet.
“If I were to completely stop my artwork, I'd still be within the arts field,” Spinelli says. “I will pick up an instrument, start writing or find another creative habit.”
Cadrin's cadence
Senior Tom Cadrin is an English major who, for many years, has endured a self-professed “love affair” with music. He creates, records and performs at any possible opportunity. After graduation,
Cadrin hopes to chase his musical dream more rigorously, he says.
“The goal is to be able to support myself off my music. I don't even have to live comfortably,” Cadrin says. “In some ways, I also feel like [Burlington] might be a small pond. Like, the music scene is fairly limited in terms of how far your influence can expand and what it really means.”
Wherever he may end up, Cadrin knows he will have to get a part-time job to pay the bills. However, he will avoid a cubicle at all costs, he says.
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Senior Tom Cadrin performed at the Monkey House in Winooski, Vt. on Thursday, Dec. 4. Over the following weekend, Cadrin and his band played three consecutive shows in Mass.
(Photo by Tyler Machado)
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“Hopefully at a bookstore,” Cadrin says. “I'd rather be around literature or something that is cerebrally-engaging.”
Interestingly, Cadrin does not characterize himself as a creative person. He is simply “expressive,” which he demonstrates most easily through song, he says.
“I don't think I even really have something that important to say,” he says. “I just feel like I have to.”
Cadrin intends to actualize his dream largely by building his venue resume, he says. Most recently he played the Middle East, a renowned club in Cambridge, Mass.
“I'll be constantly playing and perfecting as much as possible, which is stuff that I've always done, anyway,” he says.
Cadrin contends the notion that his musical aspirations are an unconventional career path. Convention, itself, is a matter of subjectivity, he says.
“Just because our culture doesn't value artists or musicians as much as an accountant doesn't mean it isn't traditional,” he says. “There's always a slew of artists; there can always be more. There's always some sort of evolution, but you can only get so far with numbers.”
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