The Last Semester at CVA Shared Through Instagram

I did a quick little Instagram project for the NY Times this past winter, and it got me thinking a little bit more regarding how to "use" Instagram. I'm still far from creating art with it, but I like the "collective" approach of seeing a glimpse of everyone's lives through their images.

The Spring 2013 semester was the final semester of The College of Visual Arts. Below is a collection (shown relatively chronologically) of Instagrammed images from students, alumni, and faculty from CVA. I sequenced the following 80 photographs from nearly 300 images that I pulled from about 40 different Instagram users.

NOTE: Anything in [italics and brackets] are my notes added after the artist's caption.

stolzmichelle: I will never forget, this semester will be the best, the unforgettable #cva #love


peterpancupcake [There was no comment given, but this was the first day of class for the final semester
when all current students and their parents met for an assembly about the closing of the school.
That's the stage where I was about to deliver a tough speech.]


catieisel: Well then.


aniems: It was a tough day, and there will be more to come... But I love my school, the friends I've made,
and the education I've received! Here's to one last awesome semester together at #cva #closingclass


jane_wunrowart: CVA alumni meeting to discuss the school closing. Q&A. I'm proud of our alum
and the support and questions. A community worth saving. #collegeofvisualarts


aniems: My favorite picture of #cva. I'm so blessed to have been a part of such an incredible community.


carolinehoudek: I took this out of the dishwasher today. It makes me sad.
And makes me not want to use the mug so it's not accidentally broken.


dam00se: There is something special about that place...


aenewman: Looking good as usual, cva


kenieshamarie: And so it begins... #newchapter [Students were able to enter MCAD through
a "teach out" agreement - this was from a meeting at MCAD early in this final semester.]


brittneylafond: No no no no no no no


geoffreynt: Going to have a hell of a time developing this film.


rachlhenn: Morning walk to class.


occision [I had a student who I thought was snapping photos during critique
in our Color Theory class. Turns out I was right.]


stevestenzel: More Munsell color work - @iamthans with all her pages laid out.


stevestenzel: Out last day painting with gouache in my Color Theory class.


stevestenzel: The last batches of color chemistry EVER were just mixed at CVA.


stolzmichelle


stolzmichelle: Artstagram


5hpy: The sun sets outside the drawing room


iamlizlewis: Watering the color processor with @brinkelcva14


aniems: #cva ♥ hoping for a turn around


aenewman: Just overcoming fears and fulfilling secret dreams, normal #cva stuff


occision: Long live cva


iamlizlewis: Hey everybody! Hit up Matt Volenec for a LoveCVA button! Proceeds go to SaveCVA!


qbear13: Making drugs in the photo lab. That's how we're going to save CVA. [We had a leaky chemistry bottle
that left this on the floor in the corner of one of the labs. The running joke was that we were making meth.]


qbear13: My heart is so broken.


jane_wunrowart: Represent. #cva #collegeofvisualarts #alum #alumni #represent


red_bow: Western


red_bow: CVA crest


ellenskoro: Office Door


thewolfwife: if ya print's a bust, u must adjust


carolinehoudek: If I was still working here I'm not sure I could have done this. [Caroline is
an alumna, a friend, and was the Photo Tech before me. The signs I put up regarding
the end of the semester / the end of the college depressed her.]


aniems: #cva #love


sarahlerum: The closer we get to the end of the semester, the more emotional I get about CVA closing.
#roughday #emotional


qbear13: Alt process.


stolzmichelle: Sad day.


sarahlerum: Love


red_bow: Best boss I have ever had! Last day :( [Aww shucks. Thanks Maddie.]


occision: Perfect. [This is Julie L'Enfant, Chair of Liberal Arts, looking at a drawing of
her likeness at a celebration that the students threw for the faculty and staff.]


katelynrose1991: Last day working the office of the CVA summit building.


brittneylafond: Finals.... #passedout


nickzdon: My students. Pullin' tables together. Just like old times. #CVA #Tradition #Latergram


stevestenzel: That's me dismantling the color processor at CVA. Sad times.


peterpancupcake: Installing the senior show #thesisprojects #seniors #galleryshow #AHHHHH!


stevestenzel: LOOK WHAT MY STUDENTS MADE FOR ME ON THE LAST DAY OF CLASS!!!!


iamlizlewis: Celebrating the bittersweet lats night of class with beer, pizza, and cake in Summit 301.
#cva #lastclass


red_bow: Last day at CVA


whambamsammcmahon: Graduation!!!!


whambamsammcmahon: #cva #collegeofvisualarts


killemilydead: Class of 2013 ♥


madelineevacrew: Last look at one of my favorite places! So heart-wrenching to see this amazing college go.
:( You gave me everything CVA! I will never forget you!! Xoxo


stolzmichelle: Going through my drawers and I found this packet. I walked through summit today and it made
me sad. I really love this place because of the people who shaped me and became my friends and family.


carolinehoudek: Says it all


catieisel: Farewell, beloved hallway.


stevestenzel: Ready for part 1 of the big CVA Photo Lab sale tomorrow.... :(


stevestenzel: So appropriate that on the day CVA started selling all assets, 2 tulips started blooming
in CVA's backyard ("the back 40" as we always called it).


ellenskoro: At the CVA liquidation sale...we might have put beer in the chemistry tanks?


carolinehoudek: It's like the F-Stop Swap... But sadder...


carolinehoudek: Just over a month ago, I was in this space printing and called it "heaven."
Now it is all for sale... Sad day.


jane_wunrowart: So sad to see my school close. However, I am thankful to receive items that mean
a lot to me and am excited to utilize them for years to come. #collegeofvisualarts #cva


thewolfwife: reunited for good. i'm ecstatic, inspired, and still sad, but so grateful. i know this camera like
the back of my hand and it was with this camera i made work that i'll forever be proud of. film forever.


stevestenzel: The last of the color processor loaded into the back of @thewolfwife's truck. #cva
Brunhilda, may you be resurrected someday......


stevestenzel: There's a hole in my soul. And the wall. #RIPCVA
[This is where the color processor once sat.]


jane_wunrowart: Visiting my school with my children before my school is no more.
#collegeofvisualarts #cva #almamater #memories


whambamsammcmahon: All over #cva #collegeofvisualarts


stevestenzel: "For Sale" sign recently went up at CVA.


stevestenzel: Had to make one last trip up to the CVA roof to take in the view of the High Bridge... #GoodbyeCVA


stevestenzel: Showing a long-time CVA staffer the view from the roof for the first time. (This is the view
looking up the "secret chute" as she looks out across the river valley.)


stevestenzel: Madeline with a truck and trailer full of CVA Darkroom gear!! Happy printing, @madelineevacrew!!


madelineevacrew: New darkroom equipment!! Next couple loads will put it all together!!


madelineevacrew: First negatives processed at the new lab!!! Omg this is amazing!! #photolab #darkroom
#gallery402b #studiotime #35mmfilm [Madeline got this all set up and processed film the SAME DAY that she moved
a lot of the old CVA Photo Lab equipment into her studio. I was so thrilled to see our equipment in use again!]


madelineevacrew: Project darkroom- complete!!! Holy shit I can't believe this!!!
#gallery402b #darkroom #photolab #photolab #projectdarkroom #northrupkingbuilding #loveartmaking


madelineevacrew: Dried prints from our first printing session! Still in shock! Yes!!! Xoxo
#gallery402b #darkroom #photolab #projectdarkroom #northrupkingbuilding

These final few Instagrams are all from me. These are from my final days at CVA and the following few weeks. (I stopped by a few times in early July once my contract was up to see what was going on.)

stevestenzel: The last of the staff from CVA out for lunch. After tomorrow, there will only be 2 or 3 still on the payroll.


stevestenzel: Final public sale at CVA.


stevestenzel: Henry's last trip down the grand staircase at #CVA.


stevestenzel: Forever un-recovered student mail at #CVA


stevestenzel: The definition of heart break. [This is the Photo Lab "check out window" completely empty.]


stevestenzel: Computer lab 301 at #CVA


stevestenzel: Henry, Orwell's "1984" might be a BIT over your head... #CVA
[That was the only remaining stack of books from CVA's collection.]


stevestenzel: CVA photo studio. :(


stevestenzel: CVA Library.


stevestenzel: CVA Drawing Classroom.


stevestenzel: What's left of the B&W Lab.

And here's a final note from a student of mine who only was able to attend CVA for 1 year before it closed. She summed it all up as well as anyone could:

iamthans: And so it is. Forever my home away from home.

It's funny... after looking at all of these photos of this place (buildings, hallways, and classrooms), I realized that it's not the PLACE people are really going to miss. It's the people and the memories and the education that took root in these places. CVA is no longer a tangible location... now it's just a state of mind.

Long live CVA.