Visual Arts and Design
Joyfully drawing forth the artist in every student.
The Visual Art and Design program nurtures each student's creativity and curiosity through a student-driven, project-based curriculum. We cultivate imagination and cultural literacy while exploring diverse media, inspiring creative experimentation and fostering lifelong learning.
Lower School
The studio program strives to create a sense of wonderment in creating for our youngest learners.
Brooke giles, lower school art teacher
The Lower School art curriculum nurtures creative thinking and individual expression, encouraging young artists to observe closely, think critically, solve problems, ask questions and collaborate.
Woodworking
Students learn shop safety, simple assemblage techniques and how to use straight saws, vises, rulers, speed squares and files.
Adventures with clay
Artists make textures in clay and create free-standing sculptures, then learn more complicated hand building techniques to create tiles, coil pots and clay cylinders.
Multimedia
Projects foster skill development, connect to other subjects, and include painting, drawing, collage, weaving and printmaking.
Studio spaces
Students have hands-on experiences in our beautiful studio spaces, learning to explore, discover and transform materials to reflect their thinking.
Middle School
Middle graders are eager to express their imaginations in a visual way. It is exciting to watch a student make changes to their art as they gain skill with the medium. Making art becomes the practice of a flexible mindset. Jennifer Chernak, Middle School Visual Arts Teacher
Options and variety
Students learn drawing and painting techniques, mixed-media, handbuilding with clay, and 3D work in plaster and other materials.
Group critiques
Students engage in group critiques for feedback and reflection.
Quaker influences
Projects include conceptual art that illustrates Quaker principles.
Upper School
I never know what projects the students are interested in, and that is usually what drives my learning. I enjoy doing a potential project before I assign it. This way I can give my students tips and tricks as well as share my mistakes and pitfalls in the process. I assure students that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them and my work is no different than theirs.Eva Kay Noone, Upper School teacher
Making connections
Students have opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration with other departments and Center for Public Purpose (e.g., Art & the Environment).
Beyond the classroom
Field trips to local museums, tours of working artist studios, and guest artist visits extend learning beyond the classroom.
Exhibition opportunities
Students have the opportunity to display their artwork in the annual All-School Art Show and as part of exhibitions in local museums.
A Variety of Classes
In Costume Design class, students design and build for a specific character, applying real world techniques and culminating in a repurposing project.