By Libby Alexander

Collegiate’s Art Walk is an annual event that many people around the Collegiate community look forward to. The Art Walk features impressive and meaningful artwork created by students in Lower, Middle, and Upper School.

On April 17, 2017, I strolled through the Art Walk and looked at many outstanding pieces from many artists. With paintings, sculptures, photography, and more, there was a wide range of media showcased at the Art Walk. If there was one common theme between all of the artwork, each of piece showcased the artist’s individuality and creativity. This was especially true of the senior students in Upper School art teacher Pam Sutherland’s Honors Art class.

Lily Cardozo’s (’17) installation.

For instance, Lily Cardozo’s (‘17) display was “all about touch and emotional triggers with touch.” She stated that she “really wanted to try and transform the science building stairwell to create the feel of a bedroom.” With a dreamy color scheme and various soft items of furniture, the display truly had the feel of a bedroom. Cardozo was able to add more character to her display by adding elements unique to her. For example, she wrapped books in paper and stacked them beneath the couch to elevate it. She also displayed many of her original paintings on the walls around the furniture.

In a similar way, Taylor Thackston’s (‘17) display also exhibited her individuality. By using items that have shaped her into who she is today, Thackston claimed that she wanted her work to be “a physical expression of [her] comfort and [her] home.”

Ann Hammond Gift’s (’17) display.

These two are not the only examples of senior artists who have used their art as a physical expression of who they are and what they stand for. Ann Hammond Gift’s (‘17) installation was all “about beauty and confidence, especially in women.” Through her various self-portraits and paintings of women, as well as her main piece, a dress, made entirely of book pages and fabric, she portrayed this idea of expressing femininity in a unique and creative way. 

Quinn Schebell (‘17) claimed that, unlike other artists, he doesn’t have a distinct image of what his artwork is going to turn out to be. Instead, his artwork is all about “putting things together and seeing how it turns out.”

Masks created by Quinn Schebell (’17).

In a similar way to Schebell, Douglas Williamson (‘17) said that rather than being about the finished product, her artwork is “about the process, how it comes to being.” Overall, all of the works of the senior artists are completely different from one another and express each of their personalities in a creative way.

These seniors were not the only artists to have beautiful work on display in the Art Walk. After exploring the science buildings and seeing the seniors’ work, I headed down to the Lower School. There, I saw various pieces of artwork from different grade levels. For instance, I met up with Andrew Scott (‘18), who was volunteering at the walk, to talk about his painting of Swedish fish that he created in his Painting I class. Scott said that “it was a pleasure creating this awesome piece of artwork” and that the experience was “very rewarding.”

Overall, the Art Walk is an incredible and unique way to showcase the pieces from Collegiate’s talented and creative artists. James Geho (‘18), a volunteer at the walk, claimed that he “really enjoys getting to see the art and help direct people so that they can see the art as well.” It’s such a cool experience to be able to see what your classmates have been working on all year, and I encourage everyone to take a look at the artwork if you have not yet seen it.

All photos of Libbie Alexander.