Even though the volleyball team was away Homecoming weekend, returning alumna Meredith (Cole) Erickson ’99 still found a great way to reconnect with her Muhlenberg past.
Erickson, who played volleyball as a Mule from 1995 to 1998 and still ranks in the program’s all-time top 10 in blocks (third) and hitting percentage (sixth), contributed two items to the 2nd Annual Alumni Juried Exhibition, which is on display through Tuesday in the Galleria Lobby of the Baker Center for the Arts.
A product designer for the home furnishing company West Elm since 2002, Erickson’s display at the exhibition consists of two striking black soapstone and brass pieces.
“The collection on display I designed for West Elm is called Visage because of the simplified reference to a face,” she explained. “The collection comprises of two pieces, a box and a sculpture. I am inspired by minimalist sculptors like Noguchi and Brancusi.
“The spherical box can stand alone as an object and also hold precious mementos. It becomes a capsule holding a memory further representing the mind behind the face. I selected these pieces for the show because they reflect the influences of my studies at Muhlenberg.”
Erickson, who attended a reception for the alumni artists on Homecoming Saturday, graduated with a double major in psychology and art.
“I loved the diversity of opportunities at Muhlenberg. It was a place I could be active in many different arenas,” she said. “I was co-captain of the volleyball team, I choreographed and performed a dance piece that was shown on local TV for Martin Luther King Day, and I double majored.”
It was that diversity that attracted Erickson to Muhlenberg, as well as the influence of volleyball coach Frank Marino.
“I came to Muhlenberg because [Coach Marino] encouraged me to spend a weekend at the campus, and after meeting the team and spending time on the campus I decided to apply early decision,” she recalled. “Coach Marino was competitive yet humble. He wanted to win and also wanted us to be healthy, well-rounded, successful individuals, and you could feel his support on and off the court. Those values attracted a wonderful group of teammates and I think it is why I am in contact with so many of them today.”
Now a resident of Manhattan with two small children – Cole (3½) and Luke (8 weeks) – Erickson still has strong feelings for Muhlenberg and looks back fondly at her college experience.
“It was a pleasure to be back on the campus and meet up with friends that I made freshman year,” she said. “Even though Muhlenberg has changed and evolved over time there’s still a connection. It still feels like a home.”