For Natalie Callahan ‘23, nine months studying abroad in Varanasi, India was more than a once-in-a-lifetime experience but also an opportunity to bring the artistic practices of the community she worked with back to the Chatham community.
The Weavers of Benare exhibit is currently on display in the campus art gallery showcasing Callahan’s work and the weaver’s process that inspired it. Callahan said that she wanted to introduce some of the practices of the Benare community with an audience in the United States. The exhibit also reflects the broader possibilities of global learning and cultural exchange at Chatham.
“The art project is meant to be a commentary on the inaccessibility of the modern art world. Basically, talking about how a lot of modern art is valued for the idea behind the art instead of the actual task of creating the art,” says Callahan.
Callahan chose drawing as her primary medium because of its accessibility. She explained that drawing is what she is most skilled in, and she has always been able to draw due to the availability of the materials it requires.
Callahan traveled to India through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, which supports cultural exchange and research abroad. She worked closely with Director of Global Engagement Karin Chipman through the lengthy application. Callahan shared that her relationship with her professors and their willingness to write such positive letters of recommendation helped her greatly.
“It’s such a Chatham thing,” Callahan said. “You don’t get that close with your professors at a bigger school.”
Chipman encouraged students interested in international opportunities to contact Global Engagement and research the Fulbright program.
“The Fulbright program really hopes to represent the United States as a whole so it’s not looking for any specific area of study or any specific type of student,” says Chipman. “Everyone is encouraged to look into it and see if there is an opportunity there that they might be interested in.”
Callahan added that she hopes more students consider applying for opportunities like Fulbright, emphasizing the personal and academic growth that can come from studying abroad.
