This fall's alumni exhibition, "The Influentials: SVA Women Alumni Invite Artists Who Have Shaped Their Work," which was on view at the Visual Arts Gallery from August 26 to September 21, 2011, offered a look at the work of some of the many successful female fine artists who have graduated from School of Visual Arts and also at works by artists who have influenced them. The show featured work by alumni Inka Essenhigh, Kate Gilmore, Suzanne McClelland, Mika Rottenberg and Marianne Vitale, among others. Not only was the show a reflection of the majority female student body at SVA and art colleges in general, it was also an examination of how the success of artists has frequently been achieved through engagement and cooperation.

Each of the 19 alumni included in the show was asked to select one artist who had been a significant influence on them; works by those artists were also chosen and displayed in proximity to the work by the alumnus who selected them. Some named a fellow alumnus or an SVA faculty member, others chose peers, still others selected mentors or artists they had never met but whose work had had an impact on theirs; nearly half of them named male artists. In many of the pairings, relationships of content, form or concept were readily apparent, in other cases, less so. Celeste Fichter, David Hammons, Marilyn Minter and Judy Pfaff were among the "influentials."

In this way, "The Influentials" partially charted the creative connections developed by SVA alumni and the artists who have, by action or example, supported them. While group exhibitions are often built around a single technique or philosophical or aesthetic concern, the work in this show was diverse in its approach, the unifying principle being these alumni's successes and their willingness to credit the members of the creative community who have inspired them. In essence, "The Influentials" was evidence of connections across generations, genders, mediums and geographical spaces; it represented a kind of social networking that takes place in the studios, galleries and minds of the participants as well as in the digital realm.

Each of the alumni in the exhibition was asked to comment on the role influence had played in their careers and their responses were diverse, engaging and thought-provoking.

Regarding two of her mentors, alumnus and SVA faculty member Suzanne McClelland said, "From both Judy [Pfaff] and Elizabeth [Murray] I learned, in different ways, how to live and make art in this world of women, men and children who are often inclined to place faith in male voices first. It was educational to see Judy and Elizabeth manage the absurdity of life. They both knew how to belly laugh and how to allow snubs, exclusions and erasures fly by them. They helped me understand how much artists really do need each other to stay sane."

Alumnus Stuart Hawkins said, "I picked Celeste Fichter because she is one of my favorite artists. Celeste's art helps me to see what I want to make. It is bittersweet, smart and funny. She makes human folly lovable. Also, in the making of my work, I have had the pleasure of getting to know many people who have happened upon one of my shoots, and joined in to participate. Over the years, the conversation about many of these shoots has continued and I have found this to be more meaningful than the final piece of art itself."

And alumnus Kate Gilmore said, "I chose Marilyn [Minter] for this exhibition as she has always reminded me of the queen bee, the badass mama bear, the force. She is someone who, with all her success and busy schedule, is one of the most generous people I have ever met. She is always willing to help, advise and tell it like it is. She has taught me to be bold, honest and to never ever relax."

These statements, along with the work and the relationships that were spotlighted in "The Influentials," demonstrate how female SVA grads are integral to and have enriched the art world as a whole. It was interesting to step back and see the patterns of mentoring, patronage, teaching and friendship that this exhibition revealed.

To view images from the exhibition and to read complete interviews with each of the participating alumni artists, visit sva.edu/influentials.