Student Stories: Rebecca Arp
Rebecca Arp
Class of 2020
Major: Studio Art
As the recipient of the 2020 Margaret Stonewall Wooldridge Hamblet Award, Rebecca Arp received a $25,000 prize providing funds for a year of art research and travel, culminating in a solo show at Vanderbilt in January 2022. With plans to complete an artist residency at das Institut fur Alles Mogliche in Berlin, Germany, Arp points to the senior thesis exhibition in the Department of Art as a key part of her artistic growth.
Originally from Columbus, OH, Arp initially chose Vanderbilt with a goal of becoming a math teacher. Art had been a part of her life from an early age, and Arp thought perhaps an art minor would be possible in college. After taking only a few art courses at Vanderbilt, Arp realized that art could lead to a “…career packed with freedom and creativity” and switched her major to Studio Art.
“Vanderbilt’s art faculty showed me that pursuing art is truly a research degree; I would never be bored because I would be constantly learning about topics I cared about in order to create my work,” she explains.
The Art Department not only gave Arp new professional goals; it helped her build a network of support, ultimately allowing her to feel comfortable being open with herself and her peers.
“I remember the very first time I told anyone that I was queer out loud was in an art class sophomore year, and that was before I came out to any of my friends. The Art Department grew to become such a safe space for me throughout my years at Vanderbilt, and at the same time it made sure I was educated,” say Arp.
Her art courses prepared Arp for the onerous task of researching and creating her senior thesis exhibition, exploring her ideas, values, and inspirations and learning to create pieces that might be accessible to a wider audience. Arp explains that creating this exhibit gave her an opportunity to explore the juxtaposition of her self-described Catholic upbringing and queer sexual orientation.
“I knew I wanted to ask questions about queer holiness and the ability of queer people to embody virtues, to not only be accepted in society but seen as virtuous. Acceptance of LGBTQIA+ individuals by religious entities is a main focus of my work because it is an important part of my personal life,” Arp states.
Arp explains that the process of creating a senior exhibition, while “daunting and requiring a lot of research, writing, and editing,” gave her the confidence she needed as a young artist. She also cites her Vanderbilt Art faculty and coursework as crucial cornerstones of her success, underpinning her decision to pursue art professionally, such as Sources of Contemporary Art taught by Jana Harper, which introduced her to contemporary artists and showed her art as a possible career choice. Arp also points to both Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons and Mel Ziegler, explaining that “they are always generous with their time and are here to guide you whenever you need advice.”
When asked about advice she would offer other students considering similar experiences, Arp says:
“A creative project, major, or minor is also a way to see diverse perspectives and can promote empathy and problem-solving skills regardless of your career path. I recommend that everyone try to do something creative while at Vanderbilt and to definitely take at least one class in the art department.”