For college students, learning from professional artists is often not just about art — it’s about developing the creative mindset, problem-solving skills, and adaptability needed to excel in any industry. At Virginia Tech, the Moss Arts Center gives students from all disciplines the opportunity to connect with artists through a range of engagement activities embedded in its programming.

The center’s visual arts residency program supports extended on-campus visits for artists, which allows for time to engage more deeply with Virginia Tech students and faculty.

Internationally known artist Yanira Collado participated in a two-week residency recently, working side-by-side with Virginia Tech students to create several site-specific works to be included in her Moss Arts Center exhibition, “Zafa/ A Spellworking of Temporal Geometry.” Over 100 students from the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design assisted with the project, constructing and arranging plywood structures, gathering materials, and papering platform surfaces, inscribing them with quilting patterns from around the world. More importantly, the students got a front-row seat to a professional artist’s creative process. They watched Collado work, observing her techniques and approach as well as her conceptual development and collaboration style. 

“Most of the time when students encounter an art exhibition, everything looks perfect and polished and installed,” said Brian Holcombe, Moss Arts Center curator. “The artists being here — creating the works, interacting with the students in real time, creating pieces that are unique to the Moss — shows them how this comes together.”

The visual artist residency program is made possible by a few long-term Moss supporters who established two endowments to fund visual artist residencies in perpetuity. Endowment gifts to the center establish a permanent legacy in support of the arts and may provide ongoing support for specific initiatives or unrestricted funds that can be allocated where they can have the greatest impact.

“We’re so grateful to Clem and Georgia Carter and Carole and CY Davis for these wonderful gifts that will bring new arts experiences to our campus,” said Ruth Waalkes, Moss Arts Center executive director and associate provost for the arts at Virginia Tech. “This type of experiential learning has become a trademark of the Virginia Tech experience, and the residency program will give students from across all academic disciplines the opportunity to engage with artists who might not typically be in our region.” 

A group of students stands in a semi-circle around artist Yanira Collado who is demonstrating or assembling a large, textured artwork made of layered blue panels with geometric patterns. The artist, dressed in black, is carefully arranging the pieces, while a student in a cap reaches out to assist. The students observe attentively, some with arms crossed, in a Moss Arts Center gallery space..
Artist Yanira Collado (at right, wearing a black mask) leads a demonstration for students in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. Photo courtesy of Brian Holcombe.

Carole Davis ’78 was inspired to support the center’s visual artist residency activities because she’s experienced the excitement and collaborative spirit that result when artists engage with students. A watercolor artist, Davis has spent lots of time in classrooms as a visiting artist.

“Because I have been a visiting artist in the past in Montgomery County classrooms, I know the students have benefitted,” Davis said. “I believe it’s a good idea to bring in anyone with fresh ideas — it’s an escape for the students to be able to have a new face presenting different words and ideas. It could be something totally different than what they’ve been studying or just a new way to look at art. They may realize that there’s a bigger world out there just from having that one person visit.”

Carole and her late husband, Charles Young “CY” Davis, have been Moss Arts Center supporters since it opened and recently established the Charles Y. and Carole C. Davis ’78 Visual Arts Residency Fund.

“We’ve always supported the arts,” Davis said. “We’ve supported the Moss from the very beginning, and this is our last big commitment of support with this wonderful program.”

Clem Carter and his wife, Georgia, established the Rosina and Dean Carter Endowment for Visual Arts Residency Program in honor of Clem’s parents. The late professor emeritus and celebrated artist Dean Carter helped establish the art department at Virginia Tech in 1950 and served as its head for 10 years, teaching sculpture, drawing, and art history from 1950-92. His wife, Rosina, who still lives in Blacksburg, supported the university’s arts initiatives in various capacities over the years.

Carole Davis met Dean Carter when she was an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech in the late 1970s, and she became friends with Dean and Rosina after she graduated. Now supporting the residency program with the couple’s son and daughter-in-law has made the process even more special and full-circle. Like Davis, Clem Carter has seen the impact of bringing professional artists to campus. 

This black and white photo shows a visiting artist, invited to campus by Dean Carter in the 1970s, speaks with Virginia Tech students.
A visiting artist invited by Professor Emeritus Dean Carter spoke with Virginia Tech students in the 1970s. Photo courtesy of Clem Carter.

“Growing up in Blacksburg, I watched my parents, Dean and Rosina, lend their support to the university’s artist-in-residence activities,” said Clem Carter. “I learned the value of the unique and varied perspectives these visiting artists brought to the students, faculty, and broader community. Inspired by this example, my wife, Georgia, and I are continuing this work into the next generation.”

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