Gallery opening for Cy Sloane Retrospective highlights Vermont history, impact on students

An exhibit in the McCarthy 艺术 Gallery captures the legacy of Cyril “Cy” Sloane, Saint Michael’s first-ever art professor.

A gallery opening attendee takes in the work of former Saint Michael’s 艺术 Professor Cy Sloane during an event at the McCarthy 艺术 Gallery on Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo by Riley Treegoob ’26/McCarthy 艺术 Gallery)

杰西卡·恩格斯，81年, a former Saint Michael’s student, said Sloane’s art grasps the natural beauty of Vermont from a historical perspective. She recently spoke after the gallery opened on Sept. 6. The gallery is running until Sept. 20在校园里.

Two former Saint Michael’s professors who had worked alongside Cy Sloane – Fine 艺术s Professor William Tortolano and English Professor Nick Clary – were at the gallery opening and shared their own recollections of Sloane as both a person and an artist. Jessica Engels also offered a few remarks about her own motivation for bringing Sloane’s work back to people’s attention.

Engels commented on how it was amazing to see alumni come back to Saint Michael’s for this event. She said Cy Sloane had a profound impact on several of his students, and keeping his legacy alive is very important to them.

Engels worked alongside Professor Brian Collier of the 艺术 & 设计 Department and College Archivist Liz Scott in the production of this exhibit.

“He was the first ever art professor – without him, this ball wouldn’t have gotten rolling,科利尔说. “The fact that his name is used for the art building just resonates. It’s like that sense of connection to the history of the place is just so strong, and he obviously had such an impact on his students who are standing over there right now.”

Curator Jessica Engels ’81 speaks with former Saint Michael’s Fine 艺术s Professor William Tortolano during the opening of the Cy Sloane Retrospective exhibit at the McCarthy 艺术 Gallery on Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo by Riley Treegoob ’26/McCarthy 艺术 Gallery)

艺术 & 设计 students study and complete their projects in an older building north of the main campus named “Sloane Hall.” This building is named after Professor Sloane, highlighting the significance he holds at Saint Michael’s College, 科利尔说.

Engels and Collier were both pleased with the turnout at the opening, commenting on how it was very exciting that both a variety of alumni and students attended.

访问ors of the McCarthy 艺术 Gallery take in the work of former Saint Michael’s 艺术 Professor Cy Sloane during a gallery opening on Sept. 6, 2024. (Photo by Riley Treegoob ’26/McCarthy 艺术 Gallery)

Several students in the 艺术 & 设计 program who visited the gallery during the opening were charmed by Sloane’s pieces.

“It’s very cool to see places in Vermont that are familiar to me painted in this way, especially because he was the first ever art professor at St. Mikes,” said Claire Barone ’26, a student majoring in 艺术 & 设计. “I recognized Camel’s Hump in his art immediately.”

The mission of the gallery was to commemorate Sloane’s legacy, and that was certainly the outcome from the event, 科利尔说. 恩格斯同意.

In a previous interview, Engels said she wanted to revitalize Sloane’s legacy as she felt it had been diminished.

“I think people who do great work should be remembered and honored,” Engels said. “That’s the point of this exhibit.”

More information about the McCarthy 艺术 Gallery can be found at mccarthygallery.smc-artanddesign.空间/索引.html.