Graduation

grad·u·a·tion [graj-oo-ey-shuhn]

noun

1. Having an academic degree or diploma.

2. Arrangement in degrees, levels, or ranks.

3. Ending an old beginning.

4. Beginning of something new.

This ethnographic photo essay documents the residents of Vassar College Town House, 44, on a rainy day with nothing better to do than wander down Hooker Avenue in Dia de los Muertos face-paint. Senior week on a college campus is a funny thing, you find yourself actually doing many of the things you’ve always wanted to. Whether it be scaling roofs, setting off a finale of fireworks, streaking through campus covered in paint and glitter or simply appreciating the people by your side during these stream of consciousness adventures.

For me, that is what this project embodies, an appreciation of what is “right now”. I wanted to document a house of senior boys, a house of best friends, a house of dynamic and interesting minds that are about to be released into the so called, “real world”. I wanted to capture and preserve our “right now”, where the most important thing at the end of the day is lighting a spliff with your best friend on your stoop and watching the thunderstorm. Sometimes face-paint helps to magnify the "right now". It tends to nudge and poke out the weird facial expressions, the odd laughter and the buried stories that make up all solid college memories.

So, “Where are you right now?”

Right now, I can’t stop quietly grinning thinking about the people that have made me appreciate all the “right nows” over the past 4 years.

Thank you.

the boys in face
vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york
film

noah 01
vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york
film

Name:

Noah Smiley Michelon

Age:

Occupation:

1. Student, Vassar College, Class of 2013

2. International Man of Mystery

Question:

"Where are you right now?"

Answer:

“Wherever I may be.”

Song of Choice:

“House of the Rising Sun”- The Animals

noah 02
vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york
film

noah's shoes
vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york
film

noah's ring pop
vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york
film

noah and aaron in the doorway
vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york
film

noah's shoulder
vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york
film

dante 01
vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york
film

Name:

Dante Fotios Varotsis

Age:

Occupation:

1. Student, Vassar College, Class of 2013

2. Researcher

Question:

"Where are you right now?"

Answer:

“The very beginning of something new.”

Song of Choice:

“Fishin”- Takenobu

dante 01

vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york

film

pk's shoes

vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york

film

boys at mcauley's

poughkeepsie, new york

film

aaron and dante salute

vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york

film

boys in front of the fence

vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york

film

juani 01

vassar college, poughkeepsie, new york

film

Name:

Juan Bautista "Juani" Dominguez Estevez

Age:

Occupation:

1. Student, Vassar College, Class of 2013

2. A wanderer in all possible manifestations

Question:

"Where are you right now?"

Answer:

“Funny you ask– I'm actually in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I'm on my apartment balcony enjoying some mate and galletitas Satur with friends as I look down on Parque Chacabuco and Medalla Milagrosa. Que tardesita que nos toco, Juani. Que tardesita....”

Song of Choice:

"La Bomba Loca"- Gustavo Cordera