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Reconnecting with the Handmade: The Hart Gallery’s Ampersand student art exhibit
William & Mary students celebrated the process of making art by hand through a special Hart Gallery exhibit that coincided with the Ampersand International Arts Festival, an annual week-long celebration of the arts.
This exhibit, Handmade, was curated by Zara Fina Stasi ‘12, a Richmond-based artist who previously painted two murals in Sadler Center and designed this year’s Ampersand logo. With the help of two William & Mary student curators and artwork submitted by their peers, the multimedia exhibition highlighted the human process of experimentation and self-expression.
“It's more important than ever to make things with our hands,” Stasi said. “We learn, we feel, and we experience in a very real way when we use our hands—especially when we are experimenting and creating art. I wanted to create a show that celebrates that process and creates a space where people can reflect on what it means to create as a human today.”
The studio founded by Stasi, Good for the Bees, aligns with this theme by helping both the individual and the collective thrive through art. Beyond bringing that mission back to her alma mater, her work has been recognized in The Wall Street Journal and U.S. News & World Report.
When curating for Handmade, Stasi said she also had a “super collaborative” experience with student curators Gibran Adnan ‘27 and Rebecca Graber ‘27. The process involved meeting to discuss the theme, reviewing submitted artwork, and installing the show.
“We both loved meeting the artists and seeing the art,” Adnan and Graber shared. "Seeing the gallery come together from many separate pieces to a collective exhibition is an extremely satisfying result.”
The exhibit was displayed in the Hart Gallery, located on the second floor of the Sadler Center and managed by Student Unions & Engagement, which provides students across majors and artistic mediums the opportunity to showcase their work throughout the year. The curators accepted approximately a dozen student submissions representing a range of creative forms.
“The diversity of the pieces stood out to me,” said Stasi. “From assemblage and collage to sculpture to sewn hangings to more traditional painting, these pieces all spoke to what it means to make something using your hands in truly unique ways.”
Emily (Mei Mei) Mon ‘27 explored the theme through sewing. By repurposing old clothing and fishing line, her piece, The Great Blue Heron, explores the environmental impact of discarded jeans on water use and pollution. Her tapestry pays tribute to the animals impacted by this waste when living along the Rappahannock River.
“I hope to commemorate the resilience of the river and its creatures whose persistence keeps my hometown so vibrant and alive even when litter is in excess,” said Mon.
Another piece, The Journey by Peter Reyes ‘26, by Peter Reyes ’26 stood out to the curators for both its form and weight. Peter employs a lost-wax casting technique that dates back over 6,000 years. The process reflects a deep connection to the history of handmade art.
“Trying new things, making mistakes, and learning is what I enjoy about creating,” Reyes shared.
Through diverse media and purpose, William & Mary students highlighted how creating by hand fosters reflection, connection and expression—reminding viewers of the uniquely human elements of art-making.
Students interested in future exhibitions can visit the Hart Gallery webpage to submit art for future exhibits or connect with student curators.