Students at the University of South Carolina curated "Generations: 100 Years of Art at USC," a centennial exhibition at the McKissick Museum celebrating the School of Visual Art and Design (SVAD). Developed in an exhibition design course taught by museum director Lana Burgess and professor Susan Felleman, the show traces the art department's history from its founding in 1925 by Katherine Heyward to its current status as the state's largest art program. Junior art history major Agostina Mercado and her classmates researched archives, conducted oral histories with former faculty like Philip Mullen, and uncovered themes of mentorship and community that have defined the school for a century.
The exhibition matters because it places student voices at the center of institutional history, giving them hands-on curatorial experience while honoring the school's legacy. By highlighting mentors such as Catharine Rembert—who taught celebrated artist Jasper Johns—the show emphasizes the enduring impact of teaching and student-faculty bonds. For students like Mercado, the project provided career-shaping skills and a deeper connection to SVAD's past, demonstrating how academic institutions can empower the next generation of art professionals through participatory, history-making projects.