Isabel Lawrence
News Editor
Every year, the front lobby displays five unique galleries that all showcase student work. The “Charged” gallery, which opens Wed., Apr. 3, is no exception. Exhibiting pieces that exemplify energy through movement and artistic technique, this student run show promises to energize its viewers.
Photoshop design and photography teacher Jeanne McDonagh, who is the advisor of the “Charged” gallery, credits the students in coming up with the inspiration for the theme. “For the two theme shows, we rely on the students to generate a concept,” she said. “We have a committee- the gallery committee. It’s volunteer, students come and we talk about what kind of theme you would like to see generated as an art theme. The students thought about anything that revolved around energy, so they came up with the title ‘Charged.’ The art that the students are creating for this show all relates to that theme.”
To help encourage students to participate in the gallery, Ms. McDonagh has been teaching her students techniques to create art that would be fitting for “Charged.” “In many cases, the teachers take it upon themselves to introduce the concept into the curriculum,” she said. “There might be a project on motion or there might be a light shoot that has to do with different lighting effects that would show energy, or sports, action, things of that nature, so we’ve been working on that.”
Although Ms. McDonagh acts as a guide for students, the pieces always reflect individual perceptions and talent. “How they interpret [the theme]is really fascinating, and it’s always unknown,” Ms. McDonagh said. “You never know when you introduce an assignment what’s going to work, and they come up with great ideas. That’s part of themselves that they bring to the table.
With all the different interpretations of the theme, it is the job of the gallery committee to decide what pieces will work together cohesively. Coordinator of the event senior Izzi Schipper does just this. “I think as far as when we do the curating process, which is when we actually choose the pieces and decide how to put them up, we do it more aesthetically, so what pieces look good together, and what pieces have a thread of a theme going through,” She said. “It could be a color, it could be a subject matter and that’s how we generally arrange them.”
Izzi has worked with fellow student coordinator, freshman Chip Mahoney and the
head of publicity and logo design senior George Harvey in organizing the event. George sees the show as unique opportunity for new kinds of work to be displayed. “The show will be different from other shows in that I think we will get to see more interesting pieces and have it be more of a fun and exciting show than the past shows, which might have been more serious,” he said.
This show may also be different from past galleries because of the intentions of the pieces. As opposed to wanting to impact the viewer, Izzi views “Charged” as an opportunity for the artists to express themselves. “I think this exhibition is more for the artist and what they get out of it than for the people who are just walking past,” she said. “I hope the general student body enjoys seeing their peers’ work. But I think what’s more exciting about galleries is for people who maybe wouldn’t consider themselves artists, it’s a great way for them to get exposure and maybe think about their art in a new way.”
Ms. McDonagh also sees the value of giving students the chance to show their work. “It’s great to have that opportunity to share student work because you can’t work in a vacuum,” she said. “It’s great to get your work out there, let the faculty see it, and have people come and view the gallery when they’re visiting.”
