by SEBASTIAN POLONIS
Since the first day of school, the Chadwick art programs and Dance Company have been hard at work sculpting, painting and choreographing art to display.
The collective efforts came to fruition on Friday, Dec. 1, when the Art Open Studios and Fall Dance Concert were held on campus.
The night started off with the art show, where work from all four visual arts programs (Studio Art, Ceramics, Graphic Design, and Media Arts) were on display.
In one room in the Middle School, visitors could find ceramics from over 60 students working for the past four months. Vases laid next to mugs, and every design showed its own distinctive elements. Students of all levels, from beginners’ Ceramics 1 to seniors from AP Ceramics, showcased their art in the studio.
Noah Matsunaga, a junior in Ceramics 3H, made a lifelike hand piece, carving every detail with nothing more than a few handheld tools. He is preparing to enter his piece into a variety of national art shows.
Creations like this take countless attempts, and aren’t always perfect.
“On the hand there was a crack that happened during the firing,” Noah said. “I sculpted another hand freshman year, but that one had air bubbles and it exploded in the kiln.”
Even after several other setbacks, Matsunaga still was able to produce exceptional artwork.
In the next room, there were dozens of photos from Media Arts students, displaying the different photo techniques and skills acquired during the first semester.
One notable set of photos came from senior AJ Velasco, an AP 2D Art & Design student who shot some eye-catching light-art photography. The spectacular photos are surprisingly easy to create.
“You adjust the camera settings for a long shutter-speed shot,” he said. “Then it’s pretty simple: You press the button, the shutter opens, and you can pretty much do whatever you want.”
Another highlight of the night came from students in Graphic Design 3H. For the entirety of the fall semester, students in this class have been working on designing a full deck of cards based on a custom theme.
Senior Audrey Lin was one of the designers who made a deck of cards. Her design was based on Taiwanese foods.
“I haven’t had a chance to draw food in a while, and as a kid, that’s something I loved to do,” she said. “I wanted to pay homage to the foods that I’ve grown up eating and the styles that I like to draw.”
There were also a variety of pieces from Studio Art classes on anything the students could imagine. From beautiful portraits to questionable foot drawings, canvases lined the walls of the art room.
Sara Campbell, another senior in AP 2D Art & Design, is one of the most committed studio artists at Chadwick. She’s taken studio art classes for four years.
“The class itself is really relaxing and quiet, and you’re mostly allowed to make anything you want, which I like.”
Her art was a highlight throughout the room, from her still-life painting to her cardboard scrap art.
After the art show, the night continued in Laverty with the dance concert. Titled “Rise. Expand.Release,” the event was performed by the Upper School Dance Company and featured several Middle School dancers.
With dazzling projections and elegant moves, the show was a spectacle from start to finish.
Dance Company is Chadwick’s own dance team composed of 21 students and taught by Kindra Windish.
Her Upper School program is built to handle the challenges of teaching dance while choreographing new shows, all while keeping the class fun and lighthearted.
“I’m trying to create an inclusive space that everyone can participate in,” Windish said.
“I’ve had people who have never danced before come into dance company for four years, and go on to dance in college.”
For students, the work going into the show was tough but enjoyable. Nyx Buchanan, a freshman dancer new to Chadwick’s program, easily fit into the Dance Company dynamics.
“My first tech week was kind of scary, but it was a lot of fun, and I’m glad that I did it.”
On the night of the dance, students worked the stage, executing every move they practiced with a distinct flair.
“It’s a lot, physically,” Buchanan said. “But since you’re practicing it so much and you’re getting this time in for weeks and weeks, you build up to it.”
Whether it was visual arts or dance, the students’ undeniably hard work and commitment made for a memorable evening.
Meagan Segal, Visual Art Department Chair, captured the essence of the Chadwick art community.
“The students are amazing. It really feels like all of my students care about what they are doing, and are eager to learn, to make, and to grow.”
The Mainsheet 