Located outside the Office of Student Activities in Buntrock Commons, the La Francis Rodgers-Rose Gallery pays homage to St. Olaf College’s first Black faculty member: Dr. La Francis Rodgers-Rose. After becoming the ninth Black woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D, Dr. Rodgers-Rose joined the St. Olaf sociology department. She found meaningful ways to impact the College and Northfield by creating community and expanding conversations related to racial justice.
After five years at St. Olaf, Dr. La Francis Rodgers-Rose went on to play a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, founding the International Black Women’s Congress. Her work also greatly advanced the field of Sociology, where she was a founding member of the Association of Black Sociologists and the Association of Social and Behavioral Scientists. Her activism and passion for leadership is inspiring, and we strongly believe in continuing her legacy and its contribution to St. Olaf College’s rich history.
In honor of Dr. Rodgers-Rose, we, the St. Olaf Student Government Association, dedicated this space in the fall of 2024 to showcase and uplift the work of multicultural student-artists in an effort to extend Dr. La Francis Rodgers-Rose’s impact on our campus far into the future.
Current Pieces in the Gallery
Vazgen on "For the Fear of Demise": As a witness to the Armenian genocide, exile, and the oppressive Soviet regime, Yeghishe Charents navigated the complexities of Armenian identity amidst despair and constant struggle. His experiences shaped his emphasis on the enduring ambiguity of Armenian fate and the resilience born from resistance. Today, nearly a century later, Armenians continue to grapple with existential threats and hopelessness. Charents’ flaming spirit was later captured by Martiros Saryan’s portrait of him, which serves as a timeless synthesis of Armenian identity in arts. Saryan’s painting and Charents’ poem “For The Fears of Demise”, have helped fuel my commitment to capturing the essence of struggle and resilience in my art, as an Armenian, an artist, and a soldier.
Theo on "Disconnect": “Disconnect” encapsulates the feelings I have experienced while attempting to find a sense of belonging in my own community. “Not black enough” and “not white enough” are familiar phrases to me. Despite the title, this piece illustrates a narrative that connects me to myself. I reject assigned narratives and focus on the aspects of myself I find the most comfort in. I don’t expect everyone to feel connected to this piece, but I want those who do to understand that we are our most authentic selves when we reject approval from others.