Graduate student Edward Whelan and students from his first-year seminar Make an Exhibition: First-Generation College Students have created a colorful installation in the UC Davis Arboretum. The exhibition titled “Reflections & Connections” is on display through June 20. 

The participating students were asked to share experiences, insights, and values to create a collaborative temporary exhibition in the Arboretum through in-class discussions, exercises, and assignments. Four installations were created: a felt flower installation symbolizing student growth through challenges, an organza quilt showing family traditions, a community map of UC Davis presenting local discoveries, and a lotería card installation with images of UC Davis landmarks representing community. These installations and their powerful narratives reflect care, strength, creativity and diversity in our student body.

On the project, Whelan was assisted by graduate student Cristina Gomez. The contributing students were Kenyan Branscomb, Jacqueline Cruz Mendoza, Yadira Davalos, Briana Dominguez, Alysia Godsey, Cristina Gomez, Xiomara Gutierrez, Jennifer Lopez Estrada, Kai Maurer-Mabanglo, Aeemun Shafique, Leslie Tadeo, Mai Tran, Crystal Valdes-Garcia, Hector Valdivia, Christy Vong and Io Yaguchi.

This project is supported by the First Generation Initiative, Department of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Design, and the UC Davis Arboretum.