Carolyn R. Brandt Gallery: 2013-14 Artist Retrospective Besides being a school where students have regular opportunities for artistic expression, Steward is fortunate to have a fully functioning gallery where exhibits introduce the work of local artists to our community. During the 2013-14 school year, the gallery welcomed six Richmondbased masters of photography, painting, and drawing, in addition to showing off the work of 400 Steward art students, who are featured during the late spring and summer. Melissa Holly, whose colored pencil and acrylic work combines science and art, featured outdoor scenes. Jiaru Wang, father of Steward senior Frank Wang, is a renowned watercolorist in China. He served as the year’s first artist-in-residence, visiting Steward for several days in September and working with students of all ages to teach them watercolor techniques. Photographers Matt Cowan and Craig Rudlin have been featured in the gallery several times. Their work this year included stunning photographs from Cuba and breathtaking pictures from Iceland.
Strokes of Genius The Art Department’s second semester culminated in the annual Art Walk with the theme “Values and Dreams.” Each Upper School art student produced a piece that focused on a value and included an artist statement about that value’s importance to him or her. Middle and Lower School students defined their dreams using the Tibetan monks’ sand mandala as inspiration. The mandalas were displayed in the Art Walk exhibit along with verbal presentations of their dreams for the world, which were accessed by a QR reader app on smartphones. The exhibit contained additional auditory artwork, too—many students had worked with Artist-in-Residence Tasha McKelvy, a local ceramic artist, during the winter to create handmade clay whistles in animal shapes, which were entertaining for the eyes and ears.
Nancy Jacey’s phenomenal Prismacolor pencil illustrations became an inspiration to many students because her technique allows for the realistic recreation of the world in a vivid, colorful style. She specializes in marine, nature, and wildlife illustrations. The artwork of painter Andy Stuart took on a life of its own for senior Susan Mire as part of her senior project. Mr. Stuart has multiple sclerosis and taught himself how to paint by holding a brush in his mouth, assisted by volunteers like Susan. She was integral in bringing his exhibit to the gallery and assisted in selling his paintings.
Crossroads
Spring/Summer 2014
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