Article by Danielle Wheelan

Over the past year, Senior Bre Legan has travelled across the world. Now, she’s back and telling of her travels and observations in a new art exhibition, “We Are The Pigeons,” located in Drury’s C-Street Gallery.

Bre Legan. Photo by Wheelan.

Legan is a triple threat: majoring in writing, photography and graphic design. Much of her academic inspiration stems from her study abroad experience in Florence, Italy where she spent the 2016-2017 academic year at Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA).

She describes Florence as a small and densely populated city, so much so that, “it is difficult to find places to relax and breathe.” Needing a quiet space to spark her creativity, she discovered Ponte Santa Trinita, a lesser known bridge of Florence, and it became her favorite spot for thought. She began to people-watch and befriended an African refugee named Stefan, whose job was to sell items to tourist.

During their first conversation, he spoke, “We are the pigeons. My brothers and sisters here, we are the pigeons. They are in the same family as doves, but they are hated vermin. We try and try to get by, but in the end, no one will give us a chance. We are hated.”

It was this small interaction that forever changed Legan’s life and her perception of refugees. According to her, 8.2% of Italy’s population is of legal immigrants and that number can be greatly increased if to include illegal immigrants, as well. Italy is a peninsula surrounded by the Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean seas, making it a prime access point for refugees wishing to escape their civil war-struck countries.

With this new insight, Legan began to open her mind (and heart) to the refugees on the bridge.

“I made it a point to get to know these people I’d been surrounding myself with. I spent the rest of my time in Florence getting to know this tight-knit community of refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers,” said Legan.

The community gave her a new focus for art and awareness of global politics. Her exhibition will feature images all shot in Florence, depicting the people and scenes in which she had profound interactions with surrounding the refugee community. There will also be text.

“All of the images are accompanied by narratives collected from the people I interacted with, further connecting the pieces together and giving a broader and humanistic approach to the show,” added Legan.

Legan didn’t spend all her time abroad in Italy. Before her time at SRISA, she spent a summer in India as a global communications intern at Cross-Cultural Solutions. She also spent much of her time abroad backpacking across Europe.

Even though Legan is happy to be back at Drury, she finds herself wanting to still travel. After graduation, she plans to return to Eastern Europe to help develop art gallery exhibits about the effects of a post-communist society on a millennial generation. She is also working to complete a Fulbright application.

“We exist in such a bubble here, and I find myself increasingly at odds with this. I think studying abroad has shown me that I don’t necessarily need formal graduate level education; rather, I need life experiences.”

A reception to announce the exhibition will be held Nov. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the C-Street Gallery. If unable to attend, viewing will be available until Nov. 26. Gallery hours include: Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Everyone is invited to attend.