Staff of Exeter Pop-up Art Exhibition
Who represents Phillips Exeter Academy? It’s not only the students and the faculty. It’s the entire community, including the staff who work behind the scenes to make Exeter run as smoothly as it does. Because of our hectic schedules, we students often forget to acknowledge the people who help us each day. We sometimes don’t take a minute to say, “Have a nice day,” to our incredible staff, and that needs to change, as the Staff of Exeter Pop-Up Exhibit reminded us all.
From Wednesday, Apr. 26 to Friday, Apr. 28, the Staff of Exeter Pop-Up Exhibit by senior Perry Asibey-Bonsu was on display in the Lamont Art Gallery. It showcased Exeter staff and their lives, both at the Academy and outside of it. The photographs, which were also accompanied by page-long interviews, shined a light on the people who we often take for granted—from Owen Carroll, a grill employee who also studies criminal justice, to Rory Eary, a custodial supervisor who is also one of our football coaches. Often, we are too caught up in our own little worlds to recognize that each one of them is a person who has their own story to tell.
“I like the idea that we all kind of think we’re the main characters of this big story we call reality.”
Asibey-Bonsu’s exhibit was inspired by his own desire to hear people’s stories. “I like the idea that we all kind of think we’re the main characters of this big story we call reality,” Asibey-Bonsu explained. “If you go up to someone and say, ‘Hey! What have you been through?’ you have no idea what will come to their mind.” As a senior, Asibey-Bonsu wanted to get to know the people who work behind the scenes before he graduates next month. For him, the exhibit was a chance to showcase stories, something he loves, while leaving a lasting impact on students and faculty alike.
As Asibey-Bonsu conducted interviews with the staff, he noticed that they were not expecting a large audience—they were not used to getting credit for what they do, and that was alright with them. “They’re very comfortable with their jobs and there wasn’t a sense of entitlement like, ‘Oh yeah, finally, it’s about time I got some recognition,’” Asibey-Bonsu said. As the project continued, Asibey-Bonsu realized that he had an opportunity to impact the staff featured in the exhibit too, and show them that they were valued by the rest of the Exeter community. “They were given attention that they’re not used to and were like, ‘Ok, this is me and this is what I do, not just at Exeter, but also outside of Exeter.’ So, I hope that they remember that we care about that. Hopefully the student body will remember to show them appreciation more often,” Asibey-Bonsu said.
Although each story enlightened Asibey-Bonsu, two in particular stood out to him: the stories of public services assistant Elizabeth Niebling and staff nurse Adam Griffith. Niebling has been associated with Exeter her whole life. Her father used to teach at the school, and three of her brothers attended the Academy, but she couldn’t go to Exeter herself because the school was not coeducational at that time. Niebling has been working part-time at the library for the past twenty years, and Asibey-Bonsu was awed by Niebling’s dedication to the Academy. “This is someone who’s literally grew up here, not just in town—but here—and is still involved in this community, Asibey-Bonsu said. “That’s not something you think of when you go check out a book—that your book is being checked out by someone whose entire history is tied to this place. It’s mind-boggling.”
Asibey-Bonsu’s other favorite interview revolves around Griffith, a night nurse at the Lamont Health Center. Asibey-Bonsu admired Griffith’s optimism and commitment to helping other people get through difficult times. “He really got personal in his interview and talked about what it’s like trying to help someone who has lost any concept of hope. A lot of the time he meets people on the worst days of their lives, and he has to figure out how to encourage people to go on,” said Asibey-Bonsu. The exhibit overflowed with deep and unexpected stories like these.
Through these personal anecdotes and photographs, Exonians were exposed to the humbling reality that each person in the showcase at the exhibit leads a rich life away from campus and their jobs. Asibey-Bonsu expressed his hope that this knowledge will encourage his fellow Exonians to fully recognize the humanity of Exeter’s staff: “I hope that the next time they see someone tending to the grounds or cleaning a building, they think, ‘Well you’re actually also a person, so ‘Hi, how are you doing?’”
Many Exonians who visited the pop-up exhibit felt that their perspective shifted in some way. Prep Genesis Reyes explained, “I feel more connected to the community, and appreciate everyone in it more, especially the staff, who do so much that often goes overlooked.” The fact that this exhibit was a student initiative also inspired many. “The fact that a student came up with this idea is amazing,” upper Eesha Shah said. “If Perry can remember to acknowledge our staff and their stories, why can’t the rest of us?” Hopefully, after this exhibit, the next time you buy a chocolate croissant at Grill, or see someone cleaning the bathroom in your dorm as you race to class, you won’t forget to say ‘thanks.”