Ar t Star ts with C olor

THE MAUD GATEWOOD COLOR AND DESIGN KEY CARDS

At Chatham Hall, students in the Art and Design classes explore color theory through a set of key cards inspired by Southern painter Maud Gatewood (19342004). Using a method rooted in Josef Albers’ color theory, students create twentyfive color and design key cards, which provide them with color combinations for painting, printing, and drawing. Through this process, students gain hands-on experience with color mixing and learn about high key, middle key, and low key values.

Maud Gatewood, considered one of the most important Southern female painters, was known for her innovation and integrity. Gatewood’s legacy lives on through the Maud Gatewood Studio Arts Building at University of North Carolina Greensboro and her many contributions to both art and public service.

Gatewood’s work, like color itself, communicates with precision beyond words, echoing the sentiment of artist Georgia O’Keeffe 1905, who believed that “colors and shapes make a more definite statement than words.”

WRITTEN BY EDWARD DOUGHERTY DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Board of Trustees made a strategic decision to collaborate with Babson College, focusing on envisioning what Chatham Hall will look like in 2050. A key element of this strategic plan is Babson College’s EPIC (Entrepreneurship Program for Innovators and Changemakers) program, which aims to nurture a new generation of innovative leaders within our school. As Alison Carter-Cady ’91 notes, “This initiative is about empowering our educators to inspire our students.”

Babson College’s EPIC program equips teachers with essential skills and resources to engage students in real-world problemsolving. It encourages them to identify and address community issues through an entrepreneurial lens. By instilling vital “power skills”—such as resilience, critical thinking, and social awareness—the curriculum prepares students to navigate challenges effectively.

The Babson Six

Martha Griswold

Erin McHugh

Josh Doyon

Beth Barksdale

Francis Yun

In the fall of 2023, six Chatham Hall faculty members participated in the EPIC program. This cohort included Martha Griswold (Dean of Academics), Erin McHugh (Dean of College Counseling), Josh Doyon (Dean of Students), Beth Barksdale (Chaplain and Global Entrepreneurship), Francis Yun (Art Department Chair), and Amelia Kolach (Science Chair). “The EPIC program has transformed how we approach teaching, allowing us to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship among our students,” said Dr. Erin McHugh.

Looking ahead, Chatham Hall will host Babson College in January to certify all faculty in the EPIC program, ensuring that the principles of entrepreneurship and action thinking are infused throughout our curriculum. Together, we are committed to creating a brighter, more equitable future by empowering our educators and inspiring the changemakers of tomorrow.

- Alison Carter-Cady ’91, Board Chair

“EPIC training has allowed me to immerse myself into entrepreneur learning that I will bring to my students here at Chatham Hall. The ‘learn by doing’ approach allowed me to address issues related to the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development. These goals will be the new generation’s task to tackle and I am excited to help analyze and assess these alongside our students.”

- Amelia Kolach, Science Chair

“This initiative is about empowering our educators to inspire our students.”