In response to Wilkinson College’s 2025 Engaging the World Initiative, Leading the Conversation on the Environment and Building Resilient Futures, students worked collaboratively to curate a new exhibition of Escalette Collection artwork titled Rooted in Heart. The exhibition is located in the first floor hallway in Roosevelt Hall and will be on display until June 5, 2026.

Students learning the basics of art installation.

The student-curators of Rooted in Heart were part of Fiona Shen’s First Year Focus class, Exploring the Escalette Permanent Art Collection: An Experiential Journey, a course where students learn critical thinking skills by working hands-on with the Escalette Collection. Rooted in Heart is the culmination of the research, writing, and planning done throughout the semester. Through this project, students experienced first hand every stage of creating an exhibition: from choosing the theme and title, selecting the artwork, writing the didactic labels, and even assisting with the installation of the artwork.

Catherine Opie, Untitled #6 (From Your Shore to My Shore), pigment print, 2009. Purchased with acquisition funds.

Rooted in Heart showcases artwork from the Escalette Permanent Art Collection that explores the deep interconnection between humanity and the natural world. Grounded in the belief that everything begins and returns to the heart, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect not only on what is being lost in our environment, but also on what is worth protecting. In doing so, it demonstrates how art can help us imagine a more caring and sustainable way forward.

Featured artists include John Divola, Suda House, Bovey Lee, Catherine Opie, Inna Ray, Tahereh Sheerazie, and Jenny Yurshansky.

The students and Escalette Collection staff encourage you to visit the exhibition in Roosevelt Hall. To schedule a tour, please visit https://chapmanu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4GixJX01Tuq9tPL.

We invite you to explore all the works in the Escalette Collection by visiting our eMuseum. 

Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the proud home of the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art. The Escalette Collection exists to inspire critical thinking, foster interdisciplinary discovery, and strengthen bonds with the community. Beyond its role in curating art in public spaces, the Escalette is a learning laboratory that offers diverse opportunities for student and engagement and research, and involvement with the wider community. The collection is free and open to the public to view.