Photo: Students involved in The Citadel’s Fine Arts program pose in New York City at the Salmagundi Club. Left to right: Tucker Young, ’24, Cadet Michaela Martin, ’26 and Catherine Rodriguez, ’24.

Two alumni and a current cadet with the Fine Arts program at The Citadel earned their place in a prestigious art exhibition in New York City this summer. Cadet Michaela Martin, ’26, Catherine Rodriguez, ’24, and Tucker Young, ’24, were accepted into the juried exhibition “Journeys Onward: Military Veterans’ Experiences” at the Salmagundi Club of New York.

One of America’s oldest arts organizations, the Salmagundi Club is not-for-profit professional and social club created in 1871 by artists and patrons to support representational art. With famed members such as N.C. Wyeth and Winston Churchill, it currently has more than 1,100 members and is located on Fifth Avenue in Greenwich Village, New York, NY. 

“Journeys Onward” is an annual exhibit that showcases the artwork of 36 military veterans or their family members, shedding light on their unique experiences at the intersection of art and the military. Curated by Omar Columbus, a U.S. Air Force veteran and photographer, and Paul M. Murray, Salmagundi Club member, an award-winning photographer, and son of two WWII veterans. In addition to their support of military veterans, the Salmagundi Club also sponsors the Coast Guard Art Program, a group of 250 professional artists who volunteer their talents to record the history of the Coast Guard.

About the artists

Cadet Martin, a sophomore cadet at The Citadel minoring in Fine Arts, is currently serving in the National Guard and pursuing an Army contract. Her charcoal drawing of a skull, entitled “Everlasting Marks,” recently won a Cooley Prize through The Citadel’s Fine Arts department.

“As someone who gave up on creating art because they saw no future in it, to then receiving an overwhelming amount of praise for a piece that I didn’t think was all that special, was very eye-opening. This experience has proven to me that art is something I can pursue,” said Martin. “As I’m starting to take my career in art more seriously, I know that The Citadel and the Fine Arts faculty will be there to help support my efforts for the next two years and even past graduation. If it weren’t for them, I would have never been in New York, so to them and the Salmagundi Club, I owe the deepest gratitude for giving me the opportunity to showcase my art at a higher level as a young and upcoming artist.”

Rodriguez is a veteran student who graduated in May 2024 from The Citadel with a Fine Arts minor and is also the daughter of an Air Force veteran. She said the arts were crucial while transitioning from the Army to life as a student at The Citadel. They provided Rodriguez with a therapeutic outlet, allowing her to express deeply personal and sometimes painful aspects of her journey. Her award-winning painting, “The Military’s Shame,” was also included in “Behind the Lines: Combat Artists and The Citadel Experience,” the first exhibition in the Moore Art Gallery in Capers Hall.

Rodriguez credits the unique environment at The Citadel for allowing her military background and artistic expression to come together, and for giving her a platform to advocate for issues such as veteran mental health and the power of art.

“Having my artwork showcased in a juried exhibit at the Salmagundi Club was such an honor. I am incredibly proud and grateful to have had the chance to share such a personal piece of myself and my experiences as a veteran. Being part of this exhibit let me authentically share a piece of my military service and my experiences,” said Rodriguez. “This has inspired me to continue creating and using my art to advocate for others. It’s a testament to the power of creativity and the importance of giving diverse voices a platform. Sharing my journey and experiences through my artwork has been both empowering and healing.”

Young, a 2024 South Carolina Corps of Cadets graduate, minored in Fine Arts at The Citadel and is the son of a veteran. Being surrounded by the military as a kid, Young saw all the ways in which it can affect a family’s life. Initially wanting to contract into the Army but being deemed ineligible, Young found The Citadel, where he was able to be in an environment that is immersed in the traditions of success and personal resilience. A winner of a Cooley Prize, Young’s charcoal drawing of himself and his father, also a Citadel alumnus, became one of the public exhibition banners on view outside the Fifth Avenue location.

“Being presented the opportunity to participate in a juried exhibition in New York City, let alone at the Salmagundi Club, was truly a dream come true. My ‘career’ as an artist has been a short but impactful one, and I owe it all to the Fine Arts program at The Citadel. Not only did the program provide me with classes that were vastly different than my usual curriculum, but established a passion that will last a lifetime,” said Young. “I will be forever grateful for the support of The Citadel Fine Arts family, as well as the opportunities and friendships that have arisen along this journey.”

On July 17, The Citadel’s Fine Arts program held an event at the Salmagundi Club with all three Citadel artists, Fine Arts faculty Tiffany Silverman and Rick Sargent, Citadel alumni, and guests. These artists and all exhibiting artists were also celebrated at a private event hosted by the Salmagundi Club on July 18. 

The mission of The Citadel’s Fine Arts program is to facilitate transformative experiences at the intersection of the arts, the military, and the community in alignment with The Citadel’s Our Mighty Citadel 2026 Strategic Plan.