On September 9, 100 works from the Tang Teaching Museum’s collection were loaned to Skidmore students on a first come, first served basis as part of the Tang’s annual art loan program known as “ROOM•MATE.” It is tradition for many students to camp overnight in front of the Tang in order to get a good spot in line, much like at any Taylor Swift or Harry Styles concert, thus starting a line outside the Tang on Friday afternoon, long before the museum doors opened on Sunday morning. These students carried tents, snacks, blankets, and more to make the wait comfortable and bide their time throughout the night.
On September 7, a viewing party and info session allowed students to see art pieces that interested them ahead of the official “ROOM•MATE” event. Because of this viewing party many students came with a selected piece of artwork they hoped to get ahead of their peers.
Art pieces available included photographs, printed work, acrylic, graphite, and gouache — all framed. When the program ran for the first time in 2020, students selected from among fifty pieces. Last year that number jumped to 75. This time around the museum included 25 new pieces, bringing the program’s total to a whopping 100 works of art. Additions included works by artists such as Kenny Rivero, a Dominican-American visual artist whose work explores the complexity of identity and Margaret Lee, an artist whose work bridges sculpture and photography through the creation of handmade simulacra. The newest piece borrowed was David Kortys’ Untitled, a watercolor on paper from 2000, and the oldest piece borrowed was Joseph Stella's Tree, an intaglio from 1877.
Vicky Grijalva ’24 arrived at the Tang with her housemates and friends Mel Douer ’24 and Apple Alvarez ’24 on September 8 at 9 p.m. to discover that a significant line was already forming with several other students in their tents. This was Grijalva’s first time participating in the event. The discomfort of sleeping in tents on gravel was, according to Grijalva, at least somewhat accounted for by the Tang’s hospitality.
“The next day the Tang had catering come and serve banana bread, hot chocolate, coffee and water,” Grijalva said.
The academic year of ‘23-’24 loaned out all of the 100 pieces of art that now reside in apartments and dorms for a mix of class years. The yearly tradition is open to all students and encourages all under and upperclassmen to come and join the bonding process.