May 07, 2025
Martina Scarpa ’25 finds passion for photography, community engagement
By Martha Young
Martina Scarpa ’25 spent four years at Providence College cultivating a passion for photography and community engagement. She majored in studio art with a concentration in photography and in women’s and gender studies; minored in political science; studied abroad with artists in Amsterdam; and engaged in community work through the Feinstein Institute for Public Service.
Scarpa was one of only eight students in the country selected to receive a Joy of Giving Something Fellowship from Imaging America. The fellowship supports student artists who are dedicated to using photography and digital media as tools for storytelling, advocacy, and social impact. She received a $2,000 scholarship, year-long mentoring, and the opportunity to attend the Engaged Arts Summit at the University of California, Davis, in October 2024.
She was the first studio art major and second PC student to earn the national recognition. Delina Auciello ’18 was the first, in 2016. Scarpa was encouraged to apply by her advisor, Eric Sung, MFA, professor of photography.
“Martina’s approach to artmaking is deeply personal, drawing inspiration from her own lived experiences, which she skillfully transforms into personal visual narratives,” Sung said. “She brings a multidimensional perspective to her scholarly pursuits, merging theory and practice in compelling ways.”
Scarpa, from Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, said her artistic journey has been tied to themes of community and human connection on- and off-campus. She has served as co-president of ECO PC, a student group focused on sustainability, and the Photo Club, an organization that works to engage students in photography. She also is the inaugural vice president of the women’s and gender studies honor society, Iota Iota Iota (Triota).
Her junior year study abroad experience in Amsterdam reinforced her passion for community. She worked with a collective of artists who made and sold art in warehouses converted to studio spaces. In preparation for the annual opening of the studios to the public, the artists gathered to prepare and share a meal.
“I couldn’t speak the language of many of the artists, but the food and community brought us together,” Scarpa said. “Despite language barriers, food became a unifying force, bringing everyone together in that moment.”
In Providence, Scarpa found similar meaning through hands-on work with the Southside Community Land Trust, a nonprofit that manages 21 community gardens that supply fresh and affordable produce to urban neighborhoods.
Through a partnership with PC’s Feinstein Institute for Public Service, Scarpa has spent the past two summers working with the Southside Community Land Trust to farm — and to teach others to farm — while providing fresh, nutritious food for those in need. Her service also included bringing fresh produce to farmers markets in Providence.
“Working with the Southside Community Land Trust been really impactful to me,” Scarpa said. It fulfilled her goal desire to reach beyond campus to meet residents and explore neighborhoods that make up the tapestry of Providence.
Images of community and connection were central themes of Scarpa’s final projects — a community-based project as part of the Joy of Giving Something Fellowship, and her senior thesis, a spring photography exhibit at the Hunt-Cavanagh Gallery on campus. In both, she will incorporate food and its role in human relationships, reflecting her experiences in Providence and abroad.
After graduation, Scarpa plans to continue to volunteer with the Southside Community Land Trust and to explore ways to combine her artistic vision with advocacy.
“This fellowship has shaped my life and my photography in ways I never anticipated,” Scarpa said. “The support, the connections, and the exposure have been incredible.”
You’ve lived it — the late-night talks, the unexpected breakthroughs, the moment it all started to make sense. Whether you experienced it yourself or watched someone you love grow into who they’re meant to be, you know how powerful a Providence College education can be. A gift through The Fund for Providence College keeps that momentum going — opening doors for the next student to discover their purpose, pursue their passion, and make their mark.
