From mansions to marshes: Salve’s Compass Summer program brings art to life on Aquidneck Island
Students embraced imperfection and connected with their creativity, filling sketchbooks with reflections and artwork for a student-curated art exhibit.
For the second summer in a row, Salve Regina University offered “Rhode Island Beauty Through the Arts,” a Compass Summer program inviting students to explore Aquidneck Island’s natural landscapes and cultural landmarks while reconnecting with themselves through creative expression.
Over two weeks, they filled their sketchbooks with watercolors, drawings, notes and reflections, culminating in a student-curated exhibition at Salve’s Dorrance H. Hamilton Gallery.
Whiteley Foster, program instructor and adjunct professor in the art and art history department, designed the experience as an opportunity for students to rediscover creative freedom that is often lost with age.
“The goal of this project was not only to connect the students with parts of their home on Aquidneck Island that they’d never seen before, but also to connect with a version of themselves that they’d perhaps lost in their adult lives,” explained Foster. “As children, we express ourselves through art and language very easily, but as we grow, there’s a weight on perfection and realism. Our goal was to reconnect with imperfection and learning by completing eight to 16 pages of sketches every single day.”
From painted landscapes to pressed seaweed, journal entries and quick sketches of animals, students embraced the process of growth over perfection. “Not every page is pretty, but it is documenting growth and change that is important not just in the arts but in all areas of life,” Foster added.
Inspiration in nature
For many students, the program was a chance to slow down and notice the details of the island in new ways.
“My most memorable experience throughout the arts program was our trip to the Norman Bird Sanctuary. We spent the day admiring the wildlife, hiking and painting together in a clearing that overlooked a lively little pond.” said Josephine Mayse ’27, a marketing major. “Nothing beats the excitement of rushing for your pencils so you can sketch an egret who just so happened to land in the perfect pose.”
Mayse, who had stepped away from painting after high school, found herself reenergized by the program.
“Knowing that my work was not supposed to be a carbon copy of the subject material but rather a reflection of my experience made painting more relaxing for me than it ever had been in the past,” she reflected. “The environment was supportive, and I was able to join a new amazing community of other artists on campus who felt the same way.”
Community and creativity
Visits to Newport’s historic mansions, Fort Adams and local nature trails gave Katherine Wood ’28, a studio arts major, a new lens for her work. “Often in my art I focus mostly on the human body or societal concepts, so it was very grounding to focus on the island with all its rich history and nature. Branching out like that inspired me to broaden my focus in my future artworks.”
Students also drew inspiration from one another, forging bonds that shaped their art and experience.
“It was fascinating to see each other's sketchbooks and get a glimpse into what my peers found interesting or noteworthy at each location in comparison to myself,” added Mayse. “Everyone who participated was incredibly supportive and wonderful, so, naturally, we all became friends by the end of the program.”
The program concluded with a special opportunity for students to exhibit their sketchbooks at the Hamilton Gallery.
“Parents and friends attended to support the incredible work that went into filling 75 pages, and in some cases 150 pages, in just ten days,” said Foster. “Seeing how proud my students were of their finished work was so heartwarming.”
For Wood, the gallery exhibition was a valuable learning experience. “Participating in the gallery exhibition was amazing because it gave me a head start on understanding how galleries are composed and opened,” she said. “I’m endlessly proud of myself and everyone else for what we accomplished.”
“The program was a great reminder of just how refreshing it is to have a hobby that lends itself to expression,” added Mayse.