VSW Staff

Nilson Carroll, Assistant Curator and Preservation Specialist

Nilson Carroll is an artist, game maker, curator, and educator working at the intersection of queer theory, video games, and glitch. At VSW, Nilson manages VSW’s digital transfer lab, teaches workshops, assists with the VSW Salon programming and curates installations. Nilson has an MFA from SUNY Brockport/VSW (2021).

Trevor Clement, Digital Printing Lab Technician

Trevor Clement is a photographer whose artworks are completed as installations, artists’ books, and interpretation into experimental sound. At VSW, Trevor manages the digital printing lab. As a freelance technician, he has worked with such artists and institutions as Gregory Halpern, Sally Mann, George Eastman Museum, Light Work, Aperture, FW: Books, Twin Palms Publishers, Transformer Station, and the States of Change fundraiser – which raised over $1.5 million to increase access to voting in the 2020 Presidential Election.

Hernease Davis, Assistant Curator Education and Public Programs

Hernease Davis is an artist, curator, and educator deeply engaged with contemporary photography. At VSW Hernease manages the artist residency program including production of the Project Space Podcast. She also programs photo related events for the VSW Salon and teaches workshops. Hernease has an MFA from ICP/Bard College (2011).

Jessica Johnston, Executive Director

Jessica Johnston is a curator, photography specialist and administrator. At VSW Jessica oversees the operations and strategic vision for the organization. Prior to VSW she was an assistant curator at the Eastman Museum for eight years. She has an MA in Photographic Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan University (2006).

Tara Merenda Nelson, Chief Curator | Managing Editor of VSW Press

Tara Merenda Nelson is a filmmaker, curator, programmer and lecturer working with film and digital media. At VSW Tara oversees the cataloging, preservation and interpretation of the VSW collections, and is the lead programmer for the VSW Salon and Workshop Series. She is also the Managing Editor of VSW Press/Film Artist Book (FAB). Prior to VSW, Tara lectured at Ithaca College, University of Rochester and Cornell University, and worked as an intern at the Harvard Film Archive and WGBH’s Antiques Roadshow. Tara has an MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (2011).

Tate Shaw, Consulting Editor VSW Press

Tate Shaw is an artist, writer, publisher, and curator. He is also the Director of Tower Fine Arts Gallery and Associate Professor at SUNY Brockport.

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