Jillian Augustine, Arts & Tech Editor
@JillAugCourant
Student interests, extracurriculars, and hobbies are a big part of what makes up the rich culture of New Canaan High School. This is why the art department makes a conscious effort to share the work of student artists and incorporate it into everyday life at the school.
One of the best ways to assimilate student art into school life is through the various art shows that take place throughout the year. These shows typically feature anywhere from 50 to 100 student artists. They are curated, set up, and run by a group of art
students called the “gallery committee”.
While every gallery seen at NCHS is student-run, there are also teachers that help make the process go smoothly, and to assist the students if needed. NCHS art teacher Jeanne McDonagh said, “The teachers don’t really interfere unless the students are not seeing something that the teacher wants to bring to their attention, but it’s mostly a student-run gallery.”
While giving the students the power to be in charge of a whole gallery teaches responsibility and organization in the art world, they are not the only ones who benefit from the art shows. The art teacher who is overseeing the current show, Jennifer Sinski, said, “I think it’s important. It’s important for students who are not involved in the arts to see what those who are are doing. Not just other students, but the faculty, staff, and parents that walk through the building.”
When it comes to curating the art that will appear in the show, theme is an important aspect to the committee. They try to pick a theme that is very open to interpretation so that they can get a wide range of work to put on display. Teachers hope that students who submit work into the shows will be challenged by sticking to a theme but will also keep their own artistic voice. Mrs. Sinski said,
“The art shows in the past have been related around different themes and projects that we can do in the arts and we always look to the list of elements of art to inspire different projects.”
In addition to looking at relationship to the theme, the gallery committee has other important things to consider. Mrs. McDonagh said, “It needs to have quality in craftsmanship and creativity as well.”
The theme of the upcoming art show, the first of the year, will be “Draw the Line” This show is called “all-media” which means that there will be a great variety of art forms, including drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and jewelry making. Mrs. Sinski said, “The line show can have anything to do with line in all mediums of art, but it really should reference or have some kind of relationship to the element of line.”
Be sure to see what your peers have been doing and get involved in the school culture by checking out the first art show of the 2016-2017 school year from November 17 to January 6 in the lobby.
