by Evelyn Feldman

The Gallatin Galleries opened its doors on December 5th to Sinking Upwards, Heaven to the Ground, a Gallatin student run exhibition that visualizes destruction with art to confront colonial violence and displacement. With a multidisciplinary approach, the exhibit makes a space where art and tragedy seem to inescapably surround you.

Sinking Upwards, Heaven to the Ground was curated by students from the Gallatin class “Collective Curating,” taught by Professor Keith Miller, exploring art’s role in addressing memory and social justice. Their collaborative effort brought together diverse artistic voices to create a powerful reflection on displacement and resilience.

The opening night drew a large crowd. Captivated by a moving spoken word performance from Lorraine Currelley, evocative words filled the room with palpable emotion. As she spoke, the audience stood surrounded by paintings that depicted vivid landscapes, fragmented memories, and symbols of cultural survival. Each piece offers a unique perspective on the shared experiences of dispossession and reimagining identity.

At the center of the gallery sat a deceptively simple installation: an empty chair paired with a set of wooden and barren flip-flops. This stark and deliberate arrangement served as a strong focal point, inviting viewers to meditate on absence, migration, and the unspoken stories carried by those displaced.

The exhibition as a whole feels like a dialogue between past and present, blending personal narratives with collective history. Through painting, spoken word, and installations, Sinking Upwards, Heaven to the Ground explores the ways in which marginalized communities continually rebuild, reclaim, and fight for what has been stripped from them. It is an invitation to bear witness to the struggles of those who have been taken advantage of and to consider how art becomes a vehicle for memory and liberation.

Tonight’s opening was more than an introduction to an exhibition—it was a powerful experience that left many guests visibly moved. As the evening concluded, attendees lingered through the art that dared to turn wounds into a testament of survival.

The exhibit will continue at The Gallatin Galleries until January 17, offering more visitors the chance to engage with its stories and themes in the days to come. Through its striking combination of visual art and storytelling, Sinking Upwards, Heaven to the Ground compels us to confront the painful realities of displacement while celebrating the resilience of those who create from its ruins.