Curious about CMC’s world-class contemporary art collection, but lack plans to visit Claremont in the near future? Or are you simply curious about the spectacular public art works currently on campus? Well…Tiffany Choi ’27 would like to (virtually) show you around.
In a recently released CMC video, Choi, an Economics-Art History major, and current Co-President of the Art Council at CMC, shares her knowledge and passion for works included in the Walker Public Art Collection.
Since 2012, the College has steadily grown its collection of art, accessible to the public and inspired by the vision of Life Trustee Christopher Walker ’69. The collection now encompasses brilliant works by distinguished artists Carol Bove, Chris Burden, Ellsworth Kelly, Jeppe Hein, Damián Ortega, Jaume Plensa, Mary Weatherford, Pae White SCR ’85, and Anicka Yi.
For Choi, integrating art into the CMC student experience not only serves to beautify campus, but fits within the College’s commitments to freedom of expression, viewpoint diversity, and constructive dialogue.
Choi values how “available and consistent” the prestigious collection is to CMCers, noting how the pieces “get worked into conversations and discussions amongst the students whether they know it or not. It becomes a way to really challenge preconceived perceptions with one another, and opens up the floor for both informal and analytical conversation,” she said.
“CMC is a school with dedicated and driven students who are always willing to challenge the norm,” Choi continued. “Students are encouraged to address intellectual friction, allowing them to debate interpretation, position, and intent.”
Despite a lifelong interest in art, Choi arrived from Washington state to CMC, with a strong academic focus on STEM, and determination to pursue a career in medicine or medical school. But it was a painting by Rembrandt that sparked a shift.
Taking in The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, a 1632 oil painting by the famed Dutch master, made her realize her deep interest in art history. “In an age with no camera or digital presence available, art was really one of the few ways of documenting historical progress (in this case, the medical world). I think that moment really shifted my attention to the arts fully. I always had art involved in some way in my life as I used to make art myself, but I very quickly realized I enjoyed analyzing human relationships, historical patterns, social developments preserved in art, more than I did creating my own art,” she said.
Choi has since funneled her lifelong interest into her involvement with CMC’s Walker Public Art program, as well as the CMC Art Council and the 5C-oriented Claremont Art Equity Initiative (CAEI), which she co-founded with a friend at Pitzer. In a previous role as director of arts for the College Programming Board at CMC, she allocated funds to create community-building arts-related opportunities for students.
With CAEI, Choi fulfills a goal to “show students the careers and opportunities available in the creative ecosystem.” CAEI hosts “panels, luncheons, student auctions, and many more events that bring together a community of students reimagining themselves as leaders in the creative industry,” Choi said. “It’s important to remember that many careers exist in that sphere, even adjacent, such as in wealth management and curation.”
As Co-President of the Art Council at CMC, Choi directs programming for students interested in creativity. The organization “offers more hands-on support for student artists looking for a creative outlet. We offer fellowships and chances for students to engage directly with art on a deeper, personal level. We encourage the creation of art within CMC. This can include annual trips to the Frieze (Los Angeles art fair) galleries, and museums as well.”
Currently immersing herself in culture and art while studying abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Choi found time to reflect on her favorite work in the Walker Collection,“H£Rñ§ñ0H§L” by Anicka Yi, which can be found in the Robert Day Sciences Center.
“If you look at it from various angles, and even media forms such as photography or video, it reflects different colors and textures you may not have typically seen before. It reminds me of a Caribbean reef squid. It’s almost like it has a mind of its own.”
With Tiffany Choi ’27 as your guide, see the Walker Public Art Collection for yourself: