Fresh Perspectives: Celebrating 25 years of "Meridians" at Smith

For 25 years, Meridians journal has published scholarship and creative work at the intersection of feminism, race and transnationalism on Smith’s campus. In its 25th anniversary issue, themes of identity, perception, and spirituality connect across different contexts and cultures. In the words of featured author El-Sherif, these works allow us “to see ourselves more clearly, to know ourselves better in order to live better.”

This installation of works on paper from the Smith College Museum of Art celebrates the 25th anniversary of Meridians by connecting scholarship and the written word with art, curation and reflection. In the spirit of student-led collaboration, a group of eight Smith students selected an essay from the 25th anniversary issue of Meridians and then paired it with a work that they feel represents it or brings out an unexpected nuance.

We hope these unlikely pairings, along with their student-authored captions, inspire a re-reading, a second glance or even a fresh perspective on how we view and synthesize art and how art can collaborate between mediums.

—Virginia Cornett  ’27

Fresh Perspectives was curated by Virginia Cornett  ’27, Nora Jones ’28, Charlotte Kaczmarek ’25, Stella Maze ’27, Zoey Ochieng ’28, Linh Tran ’27, Ella Wang ’28 and Vivian Weissman ’28. 

This exhibition was co-organized by the Smith College Museum of Art and Meridians and is supported by the Suzannah J. Fabing Programs Fund for the Smith College Museum of Art and the Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program

The 25th Anniversary of Meridians will also be marked by a symposium held on the Smith College campus October 24–25, 2025.