Three EMU students had the unique opportunity to have their art featured in the window display of OASIS Fine Art & Craft in Downtown Harrisonburg. Noussaiba Garti, Oslyn Mejia Gomez, and Rachel Tusing, seniors in the VACA Department and members of the Art Club leadership counsel, submitted their work to the local art retail space after learning about the opportunity from VACA professor and Art Club advisor Anna Westfall.

Garti and Mejia Gomez, popular EMU student photographers, have cohesive photo stories displayed at Oasis. Garti submitted her fashion photography project “Camp Maximilian” which she shot in Florida.

“It’s our take on Maximalism in fashion through bold layerings, accessories, and colors, and an even bolder location, a swamp,” Garti shared. “Maximalism is a celebration of avant-garde and bold fashion, but most importantly, it is a yearning for individual freedom and expression through art. The need for self expression among our generation, especially through fashion is at an all time high considering the political, social, and environmental turmoil we are all facing in America and around the world.”

Garti has four photos from “Camp Maximilian” featured in the display, all of which highlight different models she worked with on the project. It was her first time working with these models and creative director Elanna Wright who helped set up the project.

“Elanna was looking for photographers in the Orlando area who could bring her vision board to life, and as soon as I saw the inspiration photos and her fashion statement pieces, I was immediately impressed. It felt right up my alley,” Garti shared, reflecting on the project. “It was so cool to work with a team for the first time and see what collaboration between people who really care about a project can do. It blossomed into something special!”

Unlike Garti, Mejia Gomez’s project didn’t involve a set or models, his work simply captured the world around him. In March of 2024, Meija Gomez visited El Salvador for the first time and decided to take a series of landscape and street-style photographs of the places he visited on his trip. 

“I had never been and was really interested in documenting most of my trip,” Meija Gomez shared. “It was my first time visiting my dad’s city so it was special for me to be able to capture so many places my dad grew up around. El Salvador has been rapidly changing so I wanted to be able to capture important aspects of my Salvadorian culture.”

During his week-long trip, Meija Gomez took his camera everywhere with him. “I took two to three thousand photos throughout my week’s trip, but it kept me busy when I was at home because there was no wifi at my dad’s childhood home.”

Having his photos featured in this way was a joyous moment for Meija Gomez, “being an artist, I am always looking for ways to showcase my photography and this was a nice opportunity to have things up in Downtown Harrisonburg.”

Tusing’s artwork differed from both Garti and Meija-Gomez. She specializes in 2-D media, choosing to submit three paintings of hers to be featured in the OASIS display. The three pieces were, “Cyndi’s Plant,” a painting of a potted plant sitting on a stool, “Strawberry Fields,” a painting of a hand picking strawberries, and “San Juan,” a painting of a San Juan neighborhood. 

The next time you’re in Downtown Harrisonburg, take a look into OASIS’ window to view the artwork of Garti, Meija Gomez, and Tusing. Their art will be displayed until April 27, and a few pieces are available for purchase.