"The goal is to document their creative process," said Calle Alexander ’27, flipping through a booklet in the hallway of Brattleboro’s River Gallery School of Art. The booklet features artwork interwoven with young artists participating in the gallery's summer programs, part of a yearlong celebration marking the organization's 50th anniversary.
"Sometimes the kids really get into it; they want to show off their work and make sure you photograph it, and some of the kids want to hide from you,” Alexander said. “My goal is to not be noticed by them, but they're 7-year-olds. They're going to notice a camera in their face.”
Alexander, a Studio Art major in the College of Arts and Sciences who will graduate this winter, is participating in a 10-week internship at the gallery, photographing children in the Brattleboro day camp and helping document the organization's history as it celebrates a major milestone.
"The gallery’s working on a documentary celebrating their 50th anniversary; my first responsibility was going through interview transcripts of teachers and staff from the past,” Alexander said. “[The gallery] was family-run for a long time, it’s been really interesting to hear about the history and see the evolution of this place.”
River Gallery School of Art hits 50
For 50 years, River Gallery School has provided arts education and creative experiences for people of all ages through workshops, classes, summer camps and community programs.
River Gallery School of Art WebsiteRiver Gallery School was founded in 1976 by Ric and Barbara Campman. Over the past five decades, the organization has provided arts education for children, teens and adults, fostering an inclusive art community in downtown Brattleboro. The year-long anniversary celebration includes exhibitions, a documentary, and will culminate in a golden anniversary gala, and “Off the Wall,” an annual exhibit and art raffle in November.
Alexander has been cataloging and photographing artwork destined for Off the Wall. Participants purchase an entry ticket and are awarded artwork through a raffle drawing. "They have a bunch of artwork from local and professional artists for this huge exhibition downstairs, and all the work, when it comes here, is photographed," Alexander said.
“Calle has been an absolute pleasure to work with this summer, bringing initiative, high standards, a strong work ethic, and dedication to everything she does,” said gallery director Kimberly Carmody. “Calle’s photography and documentation of daily camp life improved tremendously throughout the summer, and this important project would not have been possible without her hard work. River Gallery School has been lucky to have her!”
Outside the Gallery, Alexander has been able to immerse herself in the Brattleboro community thanks to housing provided by the Leahy Institute and the School for International Training. As part of the program, Leahy interns support New Americans living in the region through community engagement activities. Alexander serves as a conversation partner for a woman from Eritrea, helping her practice English while learning about her experiences and culture.
"It's really interesting to get to hear where she's coming from and meet her where she's at. We're here to help [with conversation], but we're also here to learn from each other."
Alexander says the experience in Brattleboro has been impactful on her career considerations as she prepares for life beyond UVM.
“The next five, six months are really going to be very informative for me for what I want to do," Alexander admitted. "I never thought about doing event photography. Maybe this is something I might want to try and see if I want to do this in the future. At the very least the skills I’m learning here translate into my future career."
Calle Alexander will be graduating in December 2026 with a degree in Studio Art from the College of Arts and Sciences.
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