ALEXANDER JARMAN

Alexander Jarman is the Assistant Curator of Exhibitions and Academic Outreach at the Wellin Museum. From the moment we sat down together, Mr. Jarman made it clear that the pinnacle of his role at the Wellin is education and enriching the student experience. He sees himself as not only a representation of Hamilton College, but of the artists’ featured in the Wellin and the story they are trying to share through their art.

Mr. Jarman can often be seen around campus wearing polished suits and an iconic pair of whiteframed glasses. This aura of professionalism has been innate in him since he was a child, as his mother always stressed the importance of dressing nicely. “There was a lot of church when I was growing up and that was an event that you dressed up for,” he says. “There was a sense of purpose and responsibility in presenting yourself well.” This desire to present oneself nicely has not been lost on Mr. Jarman, as it is an essential part of his job at the Wellin.

Alexander Jarman first came to the Wellin Museum in 2020, but his appreciation of art and his desire to deeply explore its complexities began from a young age. Mr. Jarman was born in the “glimmering metropolis” of Cincinnati, Ohio and later attended Northern Kentucky University for his bachelor’s degree. He recounted a specific moment in his intermediate painting class during Sophomore year where he grew frustrated with the lack of advanced criticism during a critique. He remembers thinking, “I was frustrated not just at my fellow students but at myself because I did not have the vocabulary to even talk about the things I thought I was interested in.” writer: Lydia Gross copy editor: Bryna Jekogian photographer: Amanda Samaka layout: Maeve Luparello

From that point, Mr. Jarman switched his major from Painting to Art History so that he could properly talk about his passion for art. He curated a show for his senior project and realized that this would be the trajectory of his career. “That was the most addicting drug I’ve tried in my entire life,” he shared about his first curatorial show. After college, Mr. Jarman moved to San Diego and received his masters in Art History from San Diego State University. He later worked at the Walters Museum in Baltimore, then ultimately decided he wanted to work at a university museum.

At the Wellin, Mr. Jarman is tasked with finding artists who would appeal to a wide range of disciplines, and discovering ways in which Hamilton professors can incorporate exhibitions into their curriculum. Mr. Jarman loves talking about art, especially with students. He says, “I can be having a bad day, I can be feeling sad, and when I have the chance to go into the gallery and talk to a group of people about why visual art is important, it energizes me.” He believes that he has been tasked with an incredible responsibility, which is to effectively recount the stories the artists are trying to communicate in their work. This is something near and dear to his love of art, as he expressed, “I’m never suggesting that art is a silver bullet. It’s not going to solve any world problem, any social problem, but I do think if we can bring people into this institution and make them even 10% more empathetic to the concerns of what an artist is talking about, then we have provided an important service.” He shared that one of his favorite shows the Wellin has put on was Yashua Klos: Our Labour.

Mr. Jarman’s role as an educator has a tremendous impact on his sense of style. He sees himself as a representation of his institution, therefore it is part of his job to look presentable on a day to day basis. He says, “If you are dressed well, that creates this aura of friendliness around you. I think it makes people feel a little easier talking to you.” Mr. Jarman would describe his personal style as the “finance bro who recently discovered they like art better.” Even though he has to look presentable for his role at the Wellin, this does not stop him from adding a touch of personality to his classic suit and loafers. He described his personal style as, “Classy with just a touch of playfulness.I love to have the one weird button on my suit or the really outrageous socks. I can still look professional but it lets you know that I have a playful side.” Everyone on campus can recognize Mr. Jarmen from his iconic white glasses. It is just one of the many ways in which he is able to stay memorable and represent his institution while adding a touch of playfulness. His keen appreciation for art also influences his style, as he loves the incorporation of different textiles and textures into clothing pieces. He believes that contemporary art is constantly breaking its own rules and norms, and that his own fashion style is coincidentally following suit. He doesn’t care as much about rules as he used to. Mr. Jarman believes that his role as a curator transcends the museum space, as “A really great art exhibition and a really great closet both have a narrative. They both have a story to tell. That is where you can hook people and hold their attention.” Just like an exhibition space, Mr. Jarman’s closet speaks volumes about his life story.

Despite his love for fashion, Mr. Jarman does not turn a blind eye to the problems facing the fashion industry. He believes that sustainability is a tremendous issue and that the industry has become addicted to the production of cheap clothing. He says, “We talk a lot about artists being ingenious, making do with what they have, and I would love to see how the fashion industry could think the way a lot of consumers think. How can I combine things I already have in different ways to be as versatile as possible.”

This fall, shoes have dominated fashion at Hamilton and beyond. Consumers have been purchasing comfortable, casual, and durable shoes, which is evident by the prevalence of Adidas Sambas and Birkenstock Boston Clogs at Hamilton. The sales of both shoes have been amplified by their influencing presence on Instagram and TikTok.

The Adidas Samba was developed over 70 years ago and is one of Adidas’s best selling shoes. On the Adidas website they retail for $75 but are often sold out. They are then listed for much more on resale websites like GOAT and StockX. Made from recycled and vegan materials, Sambas are a smart purchase. Recently, celebrities like Rita Ora, Bella Hadid, Frank Ocean, Rihanna, and Kendall Jenner have been spotted wearing the affordable and fashionable shoe. Sambas were originally created to give soccer players traction on icy fields, but have since been repurposed to be more of a lifestyle shoe for everyone.

Sambas are everywhere around campus. Worn by a variety of students at Hamilton, Sambas are a versatile shoe that can be paired with anything. Traditionally black with three white stripes or vice-versa, they are a subtle but a cool compliment to a variety of outfits and styles. At Hamilton College, Sambas are often paired with low rise jeans, corduroys, long skirts, and high socks. Some students dress them up; some students dress them down.

Similar to their strappy sandal, the Boston’s cork footbed creates a very comfortable shoe. Birkenstock Bostons were developed in the 1970s as a vari ation of the company’s ever popular sandal. They come in a variety of colors and styles, and one variation is even lined with shearling fur for maximum comfort and warmth. The Soft Footbed Boston retails for $155, whereas, the Shearling Boston retails for $170. Similarly to the Samba, Bostons gained traction from their celebrity owners. Seen on the likes of Kristen Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, and Leonardo DiCaprio, Bostons are almost always completely sold out in stores and online. On Poshmark, they are being sold for upwards of $350 — over double their retail value. At Hamilton, they are a popular cross between a house slipper and casual shoe: easy to slip on and they match almost anything because of the complimenting cool colors, like Khaki and Clay. As it gets colder in Clinton, people are wearing their Bostons with fun, warm socks. In this way, they become a means for accessorizing, adding an opportunity to incorporate one’s own creativity into their shoe choice.