Artist's Reflection

Title: I See Us In Each Other

Creation Date: 2025

Medium: Linocut print

Creator: Alivia Bassett, Class of 2027

Artist’s Reflection

This linocut entitled “I See Us In Each Other” addresses the topic of my identity as it was revealed to me through Seton Hill. Any female identifying Setonian may recognize the room in this piece as the antiquated second floor restroom in Maura. This restroom seemingly exists in an eternal state - as it appears unchanged since its construction, and is still adorned with timeless glass sconces, tile with grout lost to innumerable shoes, and cast iron sinks with intentional accommodation for bar soaps to rest on between hand washings. The pivotal moment which inspired me to create this piece was my experience peering into the mirror for the first time, which was similarly untainted by modern hands. Already viscerally experiencing the energy of the early 1900s, glancing at my reflection in the same mirror women at Seton Hill have been looking into since 1908 induced a beautiful momentary hallucination. In the space where I might recognize the face and body in the mirror as myself, I instead visualized generation after generation of Setonian women using my reflection as a host to foster a connection with me. Through this experience, I was able to establish a great appreciation for the institution’s history and the women who were a part of it, who once filled the same rooms that I occupy day to day in 2025, and the greatness they were able to achieve. 

More surprisingly, the fleeting dream-like moment inoculated me with a sense of oneness among myself and those who have and will eventually look into that mirror, establishing a spiritual type of connection. Most women recognize the sacred nature of a trip to the restroom with their closest friends; a safe space where we can be vulnerable, whether it be asking for advice, sharing insecurities, or simply gossiping - but regardless, a space where we feel connected to one another. I felt no difference sharing that intimate space with strangers of the past who have used Seton Hill as a stepping stone to make incredible and positive impacts on humanity. In that moment, I felt the power of our collective and what we could work towards together if we could meet in an impossible place where time was no matter. The ethereal connection with such intelligent and powerful women inspired me to continue their legacy of leaving lasting positive impacts on the world. I can only hope to be one of the passing reflections in the mirror that another woman may see in Maura once my time at Seton Hill comes to a close as I use my experiences to better myself, my community, and to selflessly help others.