This summer marked 10 years since Kismet Rock Foundation has been a part of my life. The program has helped me grow into the person that I am today, and I will be forever grateful to be a part of the Kismet family. But this post isn’t about me, it’s about these two groups of phenomenal individuals that I have seen grow up over the past four years. 

A major part of Kismet has always been the family-like atmosphere that is created in the house. For one week each summer I have had the pleasure of getting to know each and every one of these students, while we all played games, cooked and ate dinner, packed lunches, did chores and went on evening activities together. Each one of them has a light inside them that shines brighter than they will ever know and they will always hold their own special place in my heart. Over the past four years I have learned about their dreams and ambitions and I look forward to hearing about all of the amazing things that they do.

Senior Year has been a whirlwind, so it was only fitting that my Senior Studio project for my Studio Art major and Senior Seminar project for my Media Studies major would be presented on back-to-back days. 

Here’s a little bit about what I’ve been putting my blood sweat and tears into since the end of last August:

Insignificance

“Insignificance” is a series of physically altered photographs. Each photo was originally an image of a typical, insignificant household object, that was then altered by the object in the photograph, scanned and reprinted in large scale.

The Art on the Ride - Exploring Board Sport Graphics

I have been very busy the past seven months working on my senior seminar project for my Media Studies Journalism and Digital Arts major at St. Mike’s. Here is the final product, a self published book that explores the graphics on skate, snow and surfboards as an art.
I interviewed various artists and designers from around the United States in order to explore the different perspectives of the artistic values of board graphics. I also utilized my experience in both the Studio Art and MJD programs at St. Michael’s, as well as my volunteer experience at the Burlington City Arts Center Gallery and my passion for these sports to draw conclusions about the artistry.

Thank you so much to everyone who played a part in making these projects come to life!

Lapping the park all day isn’t so bad when you are getting content for a book that you are writing about the board sport industry… Stay tuned.

Another Mount Washington Valley Ice Fest in the books. Every winter I look forward to going to this event, whether I am photographing a clinic or helping out the event staff at the evening shows, I am always having a good time. The event tends to bring back a lot of familiar faces, but the community is ever growing and I always meet interesting new individuals who help refresh the stoke for the sport and the festival. I look forward to see what next year will bring.

Not sure how I’ve made it this long in Vermont without summiting Camel’s Hump. Shout out to Kelsey Pelton for convincing me to peel myself out of my desk chair for some fresh fall air. This was a much needed escape from mid-terms.

The Adventure Sports Center (formerly the Wilderness Program) has been an integral part of my experience at Saint Michael’s College. I first was introduced to the program during the summer before my senior year of high school when three student instructors came to the Mount Washington Valley to get their AMGA Single Pitch Instructor certification, one of my best friend’s dad was running their course and I was a mock student. From then on out St. Mike’s was on my mind whether I knew it or not. 

My freshman year I had my work study in the Wilderness Program office, sophomore year I became a student instructor and by senior year was the Climbing Program Coordinator. Before I knew it I was leading my last rock trip of my college career, and I’m so glad it got to be with this group. Now it’s time to look forward to ice climbing!

One of my favorites things about the climbing community is its diversity.  The Mount Washington Valley Ice Fest draws people from near and far with varying backgrounds and climbing experiences.  You can find first-timers, dirt-bags and professionals alike, all taking to the frozen waterfalls that are scattered around the picturesque area.

This is the second year that I’ve received the opportunity to volunteer and document this awesome event.  Spending the weekend in my old backyard, and a few shameless hours at Frontside Grind with some familiar faces, is well worth the trek home.

Here are a few of the shots I got: