Alumni Profile
Kaitlin Van Pelt ’10
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aitlin Van Pelt ’10 (Art Education) has served as the coordinator of the campus farmer’s market since its first days, when she was a student. Created by the College’s Environmental Task Force and Students for Sustainable Agriculture, with input from local farmers, the market opened in 2010 and expanded into the winter months for the first time in 2012. As an alumna, she enjoys the connection between her and her alma mater. “Through the farmer’s market, I meet all kinds of different people that I didn’t get to know while I was on campus,” she said. “I love getting to introduce students to community-supported agriculture and the reason why it’s so important to eat and also invest in local food and your local agricultural community.” The market, sponsored by Campus Auxiliary Services, is held weekly throughout the academic year. Fresh produce, vegan baked goods, and locally produced milk and cheeses are just a few of the popular items for sale.
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New Paltz
Van Pelt devotes time each week to preparing the market, coordinating vendors, and signing up musicians and student clubs to participate. Somehow, she also makes time for an array of other professional pursuits. She is a freelance illustrator, designer, and fine artist. Many of her clients are local musicians, for whom she has created logos, poster art, album covers, and various promotional materials. “I try to show my work as often as possible and have had several shows since graduation,” she says. Most recently, she exhibited at Team Love Ravenhouse Gallery in New Paltz and was featured in Chronogram magazine. Commenting on her part-time position as a gallery attendant at Dia:Beacon, she says, “I’m keeping my foot in the art world. I like being surrounded by art. It’s a really interesting place to work.” Her band, Breakfast in Fur, has recorded their first album and will be embarking on their first national tour this fall. She describes their style as psychedelic folk rock, adding that “it is hard to categorize, I think.” Fellow bandmates include Daniel Wolfe ’09 (English), Michael Hollis ’09 (Music), Christopher Walker ’07 (Music), Sandy Davis ’11 (Economics), and Matthew Ross, who attended New Paltz before transferring. Three of the band’s singles were included on the compilation album, “Die Pfalz,” in homage to the historic spelling of New Paltz, released by the local label Team Love Records in 2012. “I sing and play keyboards. That’s where a lot of my creative energy and time goes. I am a busy bee, but these are all things I care about.”