SCHool Magazine Spring 2020

schoo ol the magazine of springside chestnut hill academy

Click here to watch a video of Boychoir practicing for their winter concert.

sch arts and new media Where Curiosity Meets the Unanswered Question | PAGE 10 springside school and chestnut hill academy 2019 athletic hall of fame Celebrating Our Newest Inductees | PAGE 14

making art 13 Alumni Share Their Thoughts On the Challenges and Rewards of Dedicating One’s Life to Making Art | PAGE 18 campaign to restore the rec SCH Embarks On a Fundraising Campaign to Transform the Rec into a State-of-the-Art Performance Venue | PAGE 33

SPRING

2020

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

If there is one constant that has united and inspired humanity throughout history and across all cultures it is art. From the nearly 40,000-year-old cave paintings in Indonesia to the exquisite Grebo Mask from Liberia (pictured below) to the extraordinary art and music found in museums and concert halls across the world, it is clear that art is an essential ingredient in making humans feel whole.

This issue of School Magazine celebrates the rich history and diversity of artistic expression within our own school community with an in-depth look at our award-winning arts program and an inspiring Q & A conversation with 13 alumni who have committed their lives to “making art.”

Steve Druggan Head of School

As I have learned during my time at SCH, our current trove of talented and impressive arts faculty stand on the shoulders of greats who preceded them. Visitors to our lovely campus not only note the amount of art that welcomes them throughout our halls and galleries, but the wide range of media. I especially relish the reaction when visitors visit Ms. Farnack’s ceramics studio, then stop

by Mr. Brewer’s truly authentic woodshop, and end up in Dr. Fishman’s high-tech VidCast Studio.

Routinely the comments are, “I wish I went here now,” and “Wow, so many ways for kids to create and tell their stories.”

The enduring power of art to move us is evidenced all around us, even in less traditional venues.

Routinely our top social media post of the year is one that captures the Hilltones or Laurelei rehearsing somewhere on campus. At sports events, when one of our students goes to the microphone to sing the National Anthem, I watch the heads of the opposing team snap around to see where this incredible voice is coming from and then watch the standing ovation from the opposing fans when the anthem is over. Goosebumps everywhere.

One unique, and unexpected, benefit that came out of the completion of Phase II of our Campus Master Plan last summer was the dusting off, cataloging, and installation of our permanent collection across campus.

The historical stained glass windows in the chapel, the exquisite Violet Oakley triptych in the Henry Library, and the sensational Sol Lewitt wall drawings along the Inn hallway have now been joined by many other pieces from different parts of our history. Among these, most notably, are the brilliantly colorful works of two of the school’s most well-known teaching artists— Barbara Crawford and her longtime creative partner, abstract expressionist Sam Feinstein. All of the pieces in our permanent collection, thanks to the work of a dedicated group of volunteers, are now accompanied by painstakingly researched didactic signage to help us appreciate the art that surrounds us.

While we all seek ways to keep ourselves stimulated and entertained during this extended and challenging health crisis, I hope that you will find a way to include an appreciation of art in your well-being routine, whether it’s listening to music, reading a book, or rediscovering what inspired you to buy that work of art on your wall.

COVER PHOTO Encouraging students to discover and pursue their passions is a signature aspect of an SCH education. Here, 5th grader Tomás Hanna, who loves music, puts his heart into practicing a song for an upcoming Boychoir performance at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Stephen L. Druggan Head of School

contents

SCHOOL the magazine of springside chestnut hill academy

SPRING 2020

2

ifc message from head of school

Stephen L. Druggan, Ed.D. Head of School

Communications Office Kayla Farrer Communications Specialist

2 campus news

Highlights of Recent School Events

10

Deidra Lyngard h’18 Director of Publications and Video Editor, SCHool Magazine

10 sch arts and new media

Where Curiosity Meets the Unanswered Question

Julia MacMullan Associate Director of Marketing and Communications

14 springside school and chestnut

Karen Tracy ha Director of Communications

Development Office Melissa B. Brown ’87 Director of Alumni Relations

hill academy 2019 athletic hall of fame

Celebrating Our Newest Inductees

14

18 making art

Jennifer James McHugh ’84 Director of Development

Brooke Mattingly Director of The SCH Fund Leslie Connor Newbold ’86 Director of Parent and Community Relations

13 Alumni Share Their Thoughts On the Challenges and Rewards of Dedicating One’s Life to Making Art

33 campaign to restore the rec

Kristin Norton Associate Director of Development Pepper Johnson Rexford ’92 Stewardship Coordinator

SCH Embarks On a Fundraising Campaign to Transform the Rec into a State-of-the-Art Performance Venue

35 class notes

18

Sue Toomey h’15 Administrative Assistant

39 mystery photos 35

40 through the lens

SCH Spirit Caught on Camera

Send your comments, story ideas, and expressions of interest in writing an article for the magazine to Deidra Lyngard, SCHool editor, at dlyngard@sch.org or 215-754-1616.

school magazine spring

SEEKING ALUMNI IN MATH: We want to highlight the mathematical success of our alumni in an upcoming issue of SCHool. Do you consistently apply advanced mathematics or statistics in your daily work? Have you received an award or distinction from the mathematical community? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Deidra Lyngard, editor, at dlyngard@sch.org.

2020

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CAMPUSNEWS

| GENERAL

sch junior takes top prize at drexel entrepreneurial pitch competition What happens to all of those plastic bottles that people recycle? This question is at the heart of SCH junior Caroline Reitmeyer’s venture, PlasTEKK. Reitmeyer has found a re-use for plastic bottles that removes them from the waste stream and ocean floor and repurposes them for a new generation of innovators. Her product idea recently won her 1st place at “Rising Starters,” a pitch competition sponsored by Drexel University’s Close School of Entrepreneurship as well as a $2,500 prize.

The inspiration for PlasTEKK came during a summer service project in Hawaii where Reitmeyer was appalled by the number of plastic bottles routinely swept ashore and onto beaches. Under the auspices of SCH’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) and its 10th grade Capstone program, she was able to work with mentors from the Engineering and Robotics Department to design and build a device that heats plastic from bottles and extrudes it as a thread that can be used in 3D printers in design labs throughout the world. As her venture’s mission boldly states, she is helping to “fuel the next generation of innovators with yesterday’s materials.”

Presenting Caroline Reitmeyer ’21 with her prize money and trophy are (left) Donna De Carolis, founding dean, The Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship and the Silverman family professor of entrepreneurial leadership, and Roger Lee, adjunct professor and entrepreneur in residence, the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship.

Reitmeyer will use the Drexel prize money to industrialize her plastic recycling process. She also plans to donate some of the funds to the Hawaii Wildlife Fund.

students sell their cel-inspired products on the avenue This past holiday season, and again around Valentine’s Day, there was a new addition to the shopping scene along Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill. Products developed by SCH students under the auspices of the school’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership were on sale at a popup shop in Serendipity, a store that houses an eclectic mix of independent vendors under one roof.

The students earned the right to join the other Serendipity vendors after pitching their products to the shop’s owner, Nicole Beltz, herself an entrepreneur with three highly successful stores in the area.

Senior Nilah Jordan, one of the student entrepreneurs, has developed Bee Kind, an all-natural, flavored, organic lip balm. Nilah will be dedicating her profits to Operation Smile. Junior Ellie Lubin seeks to empower women and enable them to express their identity through a stylish and sustainable clothing brand called Femme Fatale. Senior Alysa Akins, with her partner, junior Mia Costonis, imports unique hand-woven cotton scarves to the U.S. through Sonas, a social enterprise business that supports women in Cambodia. Junior Keith MacMahon, with his partner, junior Connor Koschineg, has created Tuff Jewels, stylish handmade geode and crystal pendants. And senior Tiara Jenkins has developed Twisted Spirit, an allnatural curl-enhancing gel intended to encourage customers to "embrace and show off who they really are."

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CEL students in front of Serendipity where they have been selling their CEL-developed products.

L to r: Nilah Jordan ’20, Eliie Lubin ’21, Keith MacMahon ’21, Mia Costonis ’21, Connor Koschineg ’21, and Alysa Akins ’20. The Twisted Spirit hair gel, Tuff Jewels pendants, and Bee Kind lip balm may be purchased online at the Sands CEL store.

Watch Tiara Jenkins talk about Twisted Spirit in her sophomore Capstone Presentation.

sch adds new early learning program to its educational offerings SCH took an exciting step to expand its educational program in January when it opened the doors to the Early Childhood Center (ECC). The center, located adjacent to the historic Wissahickon Inn in the Jordan Building (former home of Kindergarten-2nd grade boys), offers a warm and stimulating entry into learning for children 18 months to 4 years old. The ECC has already exceeded its soft-launch goals and currently has 27 students enrolled.

The ECC follows the internationally recognized and respected Reggio Emilia approach and is directed by Janet Giovinazzo, h’01, who has 43 years’ experience in education as an elementary school teacher, student support coordinator, and most recently, head of Lower School for Boys at SCH. The staff includes teachers who will bring their special talents and

years of experience to enrich the lives of our youngest children during these most formative years.

Highlights of the Reggio approach include childinitiated discovery; experiential learning through touch, movement, listening, and observation; engagement with the natural environment; and parent participation.

The new early childhood program brings a much-needed childcare option to the community with flexibility for parents who seek 3, 4, or 5-day options during the school year as well as the summer months. Daily operating hours are Monday through Friday, from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm with an aftercare option until 6:00 pm. For more information or questions, please refer to www.sch.org/ECC or contact Janet Giovinazzo at 215-261-6856 or jgiovinazzo@sch.org.

sch helps to restore a nearly extinct member of the chestnut hill community The American Chestnut tree, which once covered the northwest area of Philadelphia and gave its name to our community—Chestnut Hill—has suffered so much decimation, it is considered “functionally extinct.”

Since the early 1900s, the trees have suffered from a fungus brought in from Asia called the chestnut blight. The blight easily killed off our native trees, which had little resistance to the foreign disease.

This fall, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy partnered with the American Chestnut Foundation in an effort to help restore our community namesake to its former glory. As part of that partnership, SCH officially dedicated an on-campus grove and planted 70 blight-resistant American Chestnuts.

Present for the ceremonial planting of American Chestnut trees were: Kids in front, l to r: Joseph Dybas ’31, Bea Hager ’31, Annie Cooper ’31, and Aubri Capers ’31. Back row: Charlie Larkin ’20, Aja’nae Hall-Callway ’20, alumna and former trustee Sally Ellis Quale ’57 who helped spearhead the initiative, Sara Fitzsimmons from the American Chestnut Foundation, former board chair Dick Hayne, his granddaughter Dorie Hayne ’31, and Emma Schwenderman ’20. school magazine spring

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CAMPUSNEWS

| ARTS

the jamie bell ’78 fund gives motivated students a recording studio experience Recording your own original song in a professional recording studio isn’t an opportunity most high school students have. But, after Grammy Award-winning songwriter Dennis Matkosky and his wife, alumna Leslie Hall Matkosky ’71, visited SCH last year and taught a master class for aspiring songwriters, it became clear that there were a number of SCH students who had the talent and passion to make the most of this experience.

Through the Jamie Bell ’78 Fund, four SCH students, over the course of this school year, will have the chance to record their original work at Miner Street Recording Studio. .

After completing an intensive application process, senior Amber Stallworth was the first to earn a day in the studio. She was chosen based on a rubric that graded her piece on form, melody, chord progression, originality, and performance readiness. To prepare her composition she met with SCH’s Dr. Ellen Fishman, director of Arts and New Media, and Dr. Megan Monaghan on the vocals. Fellow music faculty Matt Brandt assembled and rehearsed the band that would accompany Amber.

For Amber, who has said that “music is what I was born to do,” the experience in the recording studio was transformative. When interviewed after the session, she was still a bit speechless, stunned at the difference between her computer-based mix and the final mix in the studio. Smiling ear to ear, she said, “It sounds so much better… so advanced... I just love it!“

SCH songwriters Amber Stallworth ’20, above, and Julia Barrist ’21, below, are the first of four students to have their songs professionally recorded with support from the Jamie Bell ’78 Fund. You can listen to their songs at the Jamie Bell Recording Project and watch a video of Amber and some of her schoolmates in the recording studio.

1990 1995 ALUMNI 2000 WEEKEND 2005 1970 SEPTEMBER 1975 25 & 26 1980 HOMECOMING 2010 WEEKEND! 2015 1985 Please Save the *new date

1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 school magazine spring

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*NEW DATE

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the celebration of the 2020 reunion classes AND OUR ALUMNI HAS BEEN postponed.

SCH PLAYERS

Inaugural players Hall of Fame awards In the spring of 2019, the Arts and New Media Department announced the creation of a Players Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding contributions to both the Players organization and to theater and media arts more broadly. The Players Hall of Fame recipients will be inducted during Alumni Weekend.

Lesley Wolff ’89 Actor, casting director, and comedian Lesley Wolff is well-known around the world for her comedy class and for mentoring up-and-coming comedians. She is the founder of and a teacher at Fresh Faces Stand Up Comedy Workshop and can be found making people laugh and enjoy themselves at the world-famous Hollywood Improv. Named “the Comic Fluffer” by LA Weekly’s Top 100 People in L.A. issue, Lesley loves to help people find their comedic voice and creates a fun, nurturing environment for them to showcase their work. She has appeared on Weeds, The George Lopez show, No Way Jose, Taraji’s White Hot Holidays, and Coldwater among other things.

The Special Service to Players Award is given to any parent, faculty member, adult leader, director, or volunteer who has exhibited longstanding commitment and dedication to the Players program through contributions of their time, energy, passion, and creativity.

Leland L Smith h’03† For his decades of devoted leadership and co-directing of Players for over 20 years; for his organizing, counseling, physical labor, and securing resources; and for his inspiration to student actors, Leland Smith is our first Special Service to Players honoree. Leland encompassed every good thing one could be in the Players organization. He had an enormous heart and dry sense of humor mixed with brutal honesty. He had an enormous impact on every student who worked with him at the Rec through his unrivaled, longstanding commitment.

Lee Smith, center, with Players colleagues Janet Blenheim, long-time Players choreographer and mother of Eric Blenheim ’98, Courtney Blenheim Norian ’00, and Alex Blenheim ’08, and Court van Rooten ha, who shared Players directorial duties with Lee.

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Photo Credit:Wolff IMDB Website profile

The Players Hall of Fame Award is given to a Players Alumnus/a who is significantly contributing to the arts world and greater community as an administrator, writer, creator, director, technical director, performer, educator, or arts professional in any area of theater, theater education, new media, or film.

CAMPUSNEWS

ATHLETICS || ARTS

On the left, a work by Barbara Crawford entitled “Harbor.” Above, a painting by Sam Feinstein, also entitled “Harbor.”

“Sam and Barbara focused upon the creative possibility being available to everyone, regardless of market, talent, acceptance, trend, or taste. They believed and taught that everyone had the capacity to create ... that the human spirit required this activity as a psychic building block, and that it was beneficial, even a necessity, to all.” ~ Binney Meigs, Class of ‘72, student of Sam Feinstein and Barbara Crawford

sch to host rare exhibition of early works by amercian abstract expressionist and former cha art teacher sam feinstein In the fall of 2020, Chestnut Hill will be the epicenter of a Sam Feinstein revival, with two exhibitions celebrating the artist’s significant contributions to American abstract expressionism. The exhibitions, one at SCH, funded partially by the Springside Class of 1957 Artist in Residency Fund, and the other at the Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill, will showcase Feinstein’s art as well as work by those in his contemporary orbit in Philadelphia. Feinstein was the head of the arts program at CHA from 1938 to 1942, and after WWII he taught art history for one year at Springside.

SCH’s exhibition, focusing on Feinstein’s early work, will also include pieces by fellow CHA art teacher and Feinstein’s former wife and lifelong friend, Barbara Crawford. The Woodmere show will highlight later pieces by Feinstein as well as work by members of Group ’55, which was founded and led by Feinstein and comprised well known Philadelphiaarea painters, architects, musicians, and dancers. The group

school magazine spring

2020

was active during the 50s in organizing public forums and exhibitions to stimulate discussion around the role of art and science in a post-war world.

Sam Feinstein was enormously influential as a teacher and an artist. He and Barbara Crawford passionately espoused the spiritual value of the artistic journey and encouraged their students to pursue their creative vision for their own personal awakening and growth rather than commercial success.

The two artists' works are displayed throughout the school, including two large pieces by Feinstein in the McCausland Lower School Lobby.

The Woodmere and SCH exhibitions, opening in September, bring much-deserved attention to this respected but not publicly well- known artist at the center of the abstract expressionist movement in American art.

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CAMPUSNEWS

| ATHLETICS

“

SQUASH WALL OF REMEMBRANCE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL SQUASH COMMUNITY—PAST AND PRESENT—CAME TOGETHER IN FEBRUARY TO DEDICATE A WALL OF REMEMBRANCE HONORING MEMBERS OF THE CHA, SS, AND SCH SQUASH COMMUNITY WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY. THE SEVEN FRAMED TRIBUTES ARE DISPLAYED IN THE LOBBY OF THE MCCAUSLAND SQUASH COURTS/PHILADELPHIA SQUASH CLUB. JORDIE MAINE ’79—“As a spectator, a cheerleader, and even self-proclaimed expert coach at times, Jordie felt truly palpable enjoyment watching his kids compete. Jordie’s unwavering commitment to the school through the many stages of his life will never be forgotten, and his measurable presence will forever be felt in these halls.”

JOHANNA SIGMUND ’94—“She continued to enjoy team sports in college at Fairfield University, and in the fall of 2000, after a full year of training, completed the New York Marathon. Sigmund sadly lost her life on September 11, 2001, in the attack on the World Trade Center.”

DAVE SCHREFFLER—”His passion and purpose was an inspiration to all. He shared his big heart with his family, the CHA and Springside communities, and squash.”

MIKE MASLAND ’91—”He attended Harvard University where he was a member of the squash team. He helped lead them to three College Squash Association (CSA) National Championships in 1992, 1994, and 1995 and was named a CSA Second Team All-American as a senior.”

NICK SCHREIBER ’12—”Nick was an artist on the court, always calm and cool on the surface, with a quiet intensity burning beneath. He had a natural talent for the game and played so gracefully. We will always remember Nick, not only as a consummate player but also as a loyal teammate, witty, encouraging, and unselfish.”

JOHN MANLY-POWER ’78—”At Chestnut Hill Academy, he was a natural athlete, excelling in all racquet sports. He was always a topranked team member of the school’s varsity squash and tennis teams.

His infectious smile, daredevil nature, long-winded stories, and funloving spirit will be missed by his family and close friends.”

Top to bottom, l to r: Jordie Maine ’79, Johanna Sigmund ’94, Dave Schreffler, Mike Masland ’91, Nick Schreiber ’12, John Manly-Power ’78, and Jack Kelly.

JACK KELLY—”He was a devoted SCH Academy fan, friend, supporter, and volunteer. He had a love for competition, and you could always find him on the sidelines enthusiastically cheering!. Jack had a great sense of humor and was famous for his motivational pre-match speeches and his unique ability to bring out the best in each player.”

Wording above is exerpted from the honorees’ plaques.

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CAMPUS NEWS CAMPUS NEWS

| ATHLETICS | ATHLETICS

jojo mcshane and dane harmaty collect allleague and all-state honors Soccer players JoJo McShane ’21 and Dane Harmaty ’20 were not only named Most Valuable Players of the Inter-Ac League this past season but also named to the All-Southeastern PA and All-State PA Teams. These two teams comprise both public and private school athletes. JoJo was one of 63 female players named to All-State and Dane was one of 65 male players.

During the 2019 soccer season, JoJo scored 17 goals and assisted on 15 others to help her team to a 12-0 Inter-Ac League record and the InterAc championship. The girls’ soccer team finished at 18-2 overall and was seeded #1 in the PAISAA Tournament where it was upset in the semifinal.

Dane also helped his team to an Inter-Ac championship with an 8-1-1 league record and 16-5-1 overall. Dane finished the year with 19 goals and 3 assists and ended his SCH career with 35 goals and 25 assists. The boys’ soccer team was seeded #2 in the PAISAA Tournament but was upset in the semifinal.

McShane ’21 and Harmaty ’20 at the SCH Fall Sports Assembly.

Fall SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

SOCCER: Boys’ and girls’ varsity soccer teams both won Inter-Ac League championships this fall.

Girls’ varsity soccer went undefeated in the Inter-Ac, and girls’ JV soccer was undefeated for the season at 16-0.

MS girls’ varsity soccer finished the season undefeated for the 3rd year in a row, securing a 31-game win streak over the past four years.

FOOTBALL: Paul Dooley ‘15 and Ke’Shawn Williams ‘20 were named to the Inquirer’s SE PA Football All-Decade team.

Ke’Shawn Williams ’20

Ke’Shawn Williams was named All-Southeastern PA and captured the Inter-Ac records in career yardage, receptions, and touchdowns at the finish of the season.

MS varsity football had an undefeated season 7-0.

TENNIS: Emma Bradbury ‘23 placed 3rd at the tennis Inter-Ac championship in 2nd singles.

WINTER SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS

BASKETBALL: Ke’Shawn Williams and David Robinson both reached their 1,000th career point this basketball season.

WRESTLING: Marco Goldberg reached his 100th wrestling career win.

The Middle School girls’ varsity soccer team has been undefeated three years in a row.

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The Arts and New Media

by the Pennsylvania Art Education Association in 2019 as an Outstanding Visual Arts Community—one of only 10 independent schools in the state!

Department was recognized

SCH’s arts education and curatorial leadership is recognized in our current partnership with Philadelphia’s Woodmere Art Museum

of

to mount joint exhibitions

Sam Feinstein’s work in the Fall of 2020. our SCH arts faculty are working artists and accomplished

rings le ry b rt G al ic fo r d A l w b a u r p C Th e ate d y ly cu r mm u nit htfu l o o l co th o u g h e sch t f o o t ty ion s diversi e xhibit f art and a

o wide array featuring a s. ve ti spec artistic per

professionals whose cutting-edge work is represented regularly in galleries, museums, and respected performance venues from New York University’s ComposersNow Festival to the Prince Street Gallery in Chelsea, NY, and the Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts.

SCH STUdents are recognized each year with numerous scholastic art awards

2019 Gold KeyWinner in printmaking Corinne Motl ’20 SCH students are regularly honored for their creative

with awards in the Greenfield Youth Film Festival, CAPPIES, Scholastic Art Awards, National Discover Design Awards, Philadelphia Theater Independence Award, and the WHYY Youth Media Awards.

work

students learn an array of

from coding and circuitry to 3D fabrication and sophisticated modeling software, enabling them to build robots, design apps, and create digital art. new media at scH,

SCH students have been accepted to the leading colleges in the arts including NYU/ Tisch, USC, Parsons, and Emerson.

arts and new media

points of pride

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sch arts and new media where curiosity meets the unanswered question A 3rd grade class learns about bees as part of a bee art project.

RECENTLY SCHOOL MAGAZINE SAT DOWN WITH ELLEN FISHMAN, WHO HAS BEEN GUIDING THE ARTS PROGRAM, FIRST AT SPRINGSIDE AND NOW AT SCH, FOR 23 YEARS. WE ASKED HER TO GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM AND WHAT STUDENTS ARE LEARNING IN THE VARIOUS ART DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING THE NEWEST AREA OF THE ART CURRICULUM, NEW MEDIA. SCHOOL: Ellen, what would you say are the goals of the SCH Arts and New Media Department?

EF: In the school’s mission statement there are some great phrases that have to do with “inspiring unbounded curiosity” and nurturing “students’ knowledge of themselves and the world.” This is central to our work in the arts and new media.

when a teacher brings out instruments. There is a swell of excitement because students are naturally curious about sound. Our classes allow students to explore and discover ways to express themselves. Because our program is very broad, students can pursue a passion in the arts across many disciplines and starting at a very young age.

Our teachers know how to “stay in the question” so curiosity can be explored. We like to emphasize that there is no right answer, or that there may be many right answers. It goes beyond just saying, “this is a piece of art and we’re going to copy it.” Our teachers ask questions like ‘What was the artist thinking when they made a piece of art and how does that inspire you to create using the same materials?” You should come watch a music class

Doing creative work takes practice, experimentation, and failure. We nurture this process in every discipline, and our teachers make sure that the outcome of all this hard work by our students is celebrated—on the walls, digitally, and at public performances.

SCHOOL: So that’s the big vision, and then curricularly, how do you teach kids the particular skills of each discipline?

Middle School art class.

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Music

Visual Arts

The focus of our music curriculum is to understand how music is made through a multitude of opportunities to sing, play, compose, and listen. Collaborative skills are important since much of music making is community oriented.

Students learn that there are many parts that make up the whole and that each person’s part is incredibly important.

Our visual arts program is focused on developing students’ ability to see and observe their surroundings and then express their many ways of seeing the world. At SCH we use the studio approach. First teachers introduce a concept by providing a cultural and historical context and then they demonstrate the skills. Students then devote the majority of the class to applying and playing with what they’ve learned.

We start off with simple songs, singing all together, then we add instruments. Next, students are asked to try singing and playing at the same time. This takes incredible brain power and coordination! After this comes two-part singing, then three-part singing. When students get to Middle School, they learn more about how music is put together, and also that there are many ways to put music together across different cultures. So our music curriculum has a cultural piece, a collaboration and coordination piece, and a composing piece. From the early grades our teachers offer students opportunities to play with what they know and make it their own.

SCHOOL: When does instrumental music come into the curriculum?

EF: In Lower School, students learn to create music in an ensemble, first with unpitched percussion, then pitched percussion, then moving to a recorder ensemble and the string intensive in 3rd grade. We’re lucky because our curriculum offers the ability for students, beginning in 4th grade, to be in both a choral and instrumental ensemble, while continuing to take general music.

In Middle School, students have the opportunity to pursue their interest in a particular instrument or join the Middle School choirs. Once they get to Upper School they can continue their ensemble work by auditioning for our a cappella groups, the Hilltones and Laurelei, or by playing in the Upper School orchestra, Chamber Ensemble, or Jazz Band.

The teachers walk around the classroom, asking “what if” questions—“What if you took that a little bit further in this direction; what would happen?” This approach encourages students to expand on what they know and also to question how they’re looking at something. Recently, I was in a 2nd grade beginning drawing and still life class. The teacher showed the students a still life that was realistic and one that wasn’t realistic; then she showed them a still life made out of something that wasn’t drawn.

With each example she would ask the students, “What do you think the artist saw here? What do you see?” So there’s this emphasis on expanding students’ notions of what is possible and how their unique way of seeing can also become something that they can present to the world. This is how we teach all the way through, gradually adding more challenges, more sophisticated skills, more opportunities for self-expression.

It’s a nice progression.

Top: Scholastic Art Award-winning collage. Bottom: Student-crafted table from SCH Woodshop.

theater “Doing creative work takes practice,,, experimentation,,and failure. We nurture this process in every discipline, and our teachers make sure that the outcome of all this hard work by our students is celebrated—on the walls,,digitally,, and at public performances.“””””” school magazine spring

2020

I think there is no better way to teach collaborative skills than to do theater together. No one role is more important than any other. If one person isn’t performing correctly on the stage or hitting their right cues up in the booth, you have a problem. Middle School students can sign up for Middle School Drama beginning in 6th grade. We take them through some basic training to get them to the point where they understand how their lines need to be delivered and how to work off of someone else, how to operate the lighting board,

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to be nimble like that. That’s why I created the virtual reality piece for the recent faculty show, because in my mind, in five years, video production will be taught equally in 3D. It’s coming, and it’s going to come really fast. Talk about frontiers where students can find a really bright future!

SCHOOL: When are our students introduced to new media?

EF: New media starts in Lower School with classroom projects. That’s where you see things like Kindergarteners being introduced to the laser cutter as part of their nightlight project in which they fabricate boxes made from computer-designed, laser-cut panels and insert an LED light inside. It becomes more formal in 4th grade. That’s when students learn how to fabricate their own pianos. Within this one small project, they’re learning how to do joinery, how to install circuitry, and how to program what the circuitry does.

They’re learning how to connect the circuitry through USB to a computer and create sound. I mean, where else do you get start-to-finish fabrication of an object that has a computer base—in 4th grade! Through this and other projects, students come to see that all the devices around them have circuitry inside and they can start wrapping their heads around this world. Also, in Lower School they start to learn code, which allows them to know how all of these things are made. Being at the center of this new digital world as a young student is one of the biggest gifts we give our students.

Scene from the Players’ production of Chicago.

or how to coordinate a performance as the stage manager.

In Upper School, we have a theater elective and students have the option of focusing on acting, technical theater, or directing.

Players is our Upper School extracurricular theater group. We present a variety of work so that students experience a range of plays and musicals. Having theater directors who are also SCH teachers has strengthened the program. Students can come to them during the day; they can see the connection of what they’re learning in theater class to their work in Players because it’s the same teacher.

In Middle School starting in 5th grade, the new media curriculum is carried out through the Center for Entrepreneurial Education (CEL). Ed Glassman ’03, executive director of CEL, and I work closely together on the curriculum and we really work to make sure there’s an aesthetic piece to everything the students do in new media, or else why would they be in the arts? To be able to make something digitally, and then have it have an aesthetic that connects to their studies in the arts is actually a huge order.

It’s STEAM at its best.

New Media Our new media faculty are innovators. It’s a mindset required for this kind of work. Recently we had six proposals for the CEL Sophomore Capstone class that had to do with fashion design. None of the new media faculty have that skill set.

So, one of our new media faculty who is an architect and designer did a deep dive into fashion design and is already expert at some exciting new software programs. We have

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The new media part of the Middle School CEL curriculum comprises creative coding, digital communication skills, digital design, and interactive design. We’ve introduced a new 8th grade class where students construct and program environmental sensors and figure out ways to apply these sensors to solve a problem. So you see how there is a progression?

All of this eventually feeds into Upper School where students learn Xcode and design and fabrication in the CEL and then have the option of signing up for new media electives like Songwriting, Architecture, App Design, and Coding.

SCHOOL: Do you think there will ever come a time when you have to drop something, like painting, because there’s so much going on in the new media arena?

EF: The traditional arts are very important as a scaffold for all new things. For example, early in our visual arts classes, students are taught how to recognize and then draw the direction and intensity of light on an object. That training helps make students aware of the world around them and also translates to more sophisticated work when drawing on the computer. The same is true with music. If you don’t know some music theory, you’re not going to know all of the possibilities as a songwriter using a computer. The great thing about the arts is that there are no shortcuts. The only way knowledge comes is through doing.

At the SCH Art Faculty Exhibition, a guest explores a new media faculty exhibit featuring one of the latest trends in video—a 360-degree, surroundsound experience, this one featuring the changing fall season in the Wissahickon.

“The teachers walk around the classroom,asking “’what if ’ questions: ’What if you took that a little bit further in this direction; what would happen?’ This approach encourages students to expand on what they know and also to question how they’re looking at something.“”””””

Far Left: A 5th grader programs his self-built digital piano.

Left: A Kindergarten girl paints a picture in the style of Georgia O'Keefe.

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Ellen Fishman, director of Arts and New Media, talks about SCH Academy's art program.

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ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

SPRINGSIDE SCHOOL & CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY

2019 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME ON OCTOBER 10, SCH ACADEMY HONORED SIX INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES AND ONE TEAM AT THE CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY AND SPRINGSIDE SCHOOL

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME, WHICH INDUCTS ATHLETES EVERY

THREE YEARS. THE HALL OF FAME SERVES AS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO OUR SCHOOL’S EXTRAORDINARY SPORTS HISTORY AND TO THOSE INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES, TEAMS, AND COACHES WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE AND INSPIRE THOSE WHO FOLLOW.

The 2019 Hall of Fame inductees: (Front row, l to r) Margaret Elias Gerety ’98, Katie Rutan ’09. (Back row, l to r) Tucker Schade ’98, Frank O’Neill ’98, Chris Greenleaf ’99, Tom Paradiso ’98, Michael Brown ’00, Rick Knox ’92, Michael Mattei ’08, E.J. Murphy ’95.

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michael brown ’00

| baseball, basketball

Michael Brown earned 12 varsity letters during his athletic career at Chestnut Hill Academy, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. He was awarded the Patterson Cup honoring him as the school’s most outstanding athlete in 2000. Michael excelled particularly in basketball and baseball. During his CHA basketball career, Michael was a member of the 1997-1998 Inter-Ac championship team, playing guard and later serving as the team’s captain for the 1999-2000 season. He was the team’s leading scorer and team MVP during his senior year. Michael was a two-time Inter-Ac All-Star in the 19981999 and 1999-2000 seasons and the recipient of the Markward Basketball Award in 2000. He was the 6th player in CHA’s storied athletic history to score over 1,000 career points. Michael was also an outstanding baseball player and team catcher. He was an Inter-Ac All-Star and Philadelphia Regional All-Star all four years of high school. He twice earned team MVP (1999, 2000) and graduated with 17 individual baseball records. Michael was a three-time Philadelphia All-City All-Star (1998, 1999, 2000) and was selected to the Philadelphia Carpenter Cup All-Star team three times (1998, 1999, 2000).

He was named a High School All-American by Rawlings’ Baseball Factory and the National Baseball Coaches Association. Michael earned a four-year athletic scholarship to play baseball at Temple University.

He returned to SCH as the assistant head baseball coach where he helped lead the varsity team to their 2016 Inter-Ac championship title.

margaret elias gerety ’98

| squash

At Springside, Margaret played on varsity beginning in the 8th grade. She was co-captain of the team her senior year when it won Springside’s first Inter-Ac title in squash. She was the recipient of the Phyllis M. Vare Sportsmanship Award her senior year for outstanding academic and athletic talents. She was ranked in the top two in the country for many years and played number one for Springside and later at Harvard University. Margaret was one of the most successful squash players in the United States during those years.

In October 2017, Margaret was inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame for her outstanding and impressive achievements in squash. Her credentials during her collegiate career include four-time All-American First Team from 1999 to 2002; two-time WISA All-Tournament team; Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 1999; and four-time All-Ivy League First Team. She was an Academic All-Ivy League, four-year letter winner, and two-time captain, leading her team to national and Ivy League championship titles her junior year.

Margaret was also a two-time member of the U.S. National Team, traveling to compete against other countries at the highest level of squash. She continued to play competitively after her collegiate years, often with men in order to get adequate competition, and has participated in the Howe Cup each year as a member of a women's team. She recently competed in the 2018 World Masters tournament.

Margaret continues to support her squash roots. She is currently a board member of the CSA, which oversees all of college squash, and most recently served as the executive director of Squash On Fire, a membership-free squash facility in Washington, DC.

“TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETES...WITH A LASTING TRIBUTE”

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rick knox ’92

| wrestling, baseball, football

Rick Knox graduated from CHA with 11 varsity letters in football, wrestling, and baseball. He earned four varsity letters in football and was named All-League for three years. As a wrestler, Rick won over 90 matches and was All-Inter-Ac and All-American, placing 5th at Nationals in 1992. He also earned three varsity letters on the baseball diamond. Rick pursued football at the University of Pennsylvania where he was a three-year starter and two-time undefeated Ivy Champ. In his senior year at Penn, Rick earned All-Ivy and won the Pennsylvania Football Club Award.

CHA, and now SCH, is fortunate to have Rick as head football coach. Rick started his coaching career at Episcopal Academy, where he was the youngest head coach in the school’s history and led them to their first Inter-Ac title in 23 years (2004). At SCH, Rick’s teams are a combined 85-57, and in 2009 CHA earned its first Inter-Ac football championship. On November 4, 2017, Rick won the 100th game of his coaching career with a 24-20 win over Haverford School. Rick leads a great program, teaching love of the game, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Many of his players have gone on to play at the collegiate level.

michael mattei ’08

| football, basketball, baseball

At CHA, Michael Mattei earned eight varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball and was awarded the Patterson Cup in 2008. On the football field, he was a three-year starter at quarterback and, during his senior year when the team went 9-1, served as its captain. He was named First Team All-Inter-Ac and All-City Honors during his senior year. He also won MVP of the City All-Star Game and, with four touchdowns, set a record for the most touchdowns in the history of that game—all this after a morning of baseball when he hit a home run! As a basketball player, he earned two varsity letters and was named captain during his senior year. During his basketball career at CHA, the team went from last place in his junior year to Inter-Ac champs in his senior year when he logged the most minutes played on the championship team and was named All-Inter-Ac Honors. As a baseball player, Michael played multiple positions and made All-Inter-Ac all three years. In his senior year, he was captain, played on the All-City team, and hit over .450 with five home runs on the All-Southeastern PA team.

Michael went on to play college football at West Chester University where he started as quarterback for two seasons. He also played wide receiver, safety, and long-snapper. At WCU, he was a three-year letter winner and a captain his senior year when he threw 26 touchdowns (8th most in the history of school), six of which were in one game (a WCU record). Michael also played in and won MVP in the All-American Bowl, which is a national collegiate All-Star Game held at the Metrodome.

e.j. murphy ’95

| soccer, baseball, wrestling

E.J. Murphy was a tri-varsity athlete excelling at baseball, soccer, and wrestling. In his senior year, he was co-captain of all three sports, co-recipient of the Patterson Cup, and named Most Outstanding in soccer and baseball. In soccer, E.J. set school records for shutouts in a season and career. He earned All-Inter-Ac Honors in soccer and baseball during his junior and senior years and All-Inter-Ac in wrestling in his senior year. He was named All-City and Montgomery County in baseball his senior year after leading the baseball team in hits, batting average, home runs, and RBIs. E.J. went on to play soccer and baseball at Washington and Lee University where he was a fouryear letter winner and captain of both teams. At W&L in soccer, he set school records for shutouts in a season and in a career, as well as goals against average in a season and in a career. He also won the DD Redmond Defensive Soccer Award his senior year, the Jim Trundle Most Valuable Player Trophy his junior year, was named All-Conference both years, and finished his senior year with the 12th best goals against average in the NCAA. On the diamond, E.J. was named All-Conference his junior and senior years, won the Tommy Baker Batting Award for the best batting average on the baseball team in his senior year, and was named All-Tournament Catcher at both the ODAC Conference Tournament and the Rawlings Wooden Bat Invitational Tournament that season.

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katie rutan ’09

| basketball

At Springside, Katie Rutan was a basketball powerhouse. During her senior year, when she averaged 20.6 points per game, she was a Blue and Gold Award Winner, Phyllis M. Vare Sportsmanship Award recipient, Inter-Ac League Player of the Year, and captain of the First Team All-Inter-Ac. She was ranked in the top 100

by ESPN, named McDonald’s All-American Honorable Mention, and impressively, remains the highest scorer in the school’s basketball history with a career 1,759 points.

Katie continued her success on the court at Xavier University where she played for two years before finishing her college career at the University of Maryland. At Xavier, she scored a career high of 25 points in a game and set an Xavier record for “threes” made in one half. She was named to the 2010 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team and was an Associated Press First Team pick for Class A. She scored more than 1,000 points in her college career and was named All-ACC Academic Team (2012, 2013). After college, she played professional basketball in Europe for teams in Greece, Romania, and Luxembourg where she was named All-Romanian League Honorable Mention (2017).

1998 varsity men’s crew Chris Greenleaf ‘99 | Frank O’Neill ‘98 | TOM Paradiso ’98 | Tucker Schade ‘98 In 1998, the CHA Varsity Crew Quad—comprising Frank O’Neill ’98, Tom Paradiso ’98, Tucker Schade ’98, and Chris Greenleaf ’99—won 1st place in the Junior Men’s Quad at the U.S. Rowing Association Youth Invitational Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The boat won the national championship by more than seven seconds—a length of open water—with a time of 6:20.3. Coach Bruce LaLonde was quoted in the Chestnut Hill Local at the time as saying, “They rowed with amazing technical ability and athletic strength… They rowed the best race of their careers. They literally dominated the race.

They rowed exquisitely.… It was beautiful.”

After graduating from CHA, three of the boat members went on to row at the University of Pennsylvania—Frank on the lightweight team and Tom and Chris on Penn’s heavyweight team. Following their rowing careers at Penn, Chris and Tom continued to row. Tom competed for a number of years at the national and international levels, ultimately rowing on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in Beijing. Incredibly, Tom and Chris both rowed in the U.S. men’s lightweight eight at the 2004 World Championships.

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Joseph Castle ’79 in his sculpture studio.

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making

Art

13 alumni share their thoughts on the

challenges and rewards of dedicating one’s life to making art

PURSUING A LIFE IN THE ARTS REQUIRES A TOLERANCE FOR REJECTION, AN ABILITY TO PERSIST THROUGH DOUBT, A COMPULSION TO EXPRESS ONESELF, AND THE COURAGE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH AS YOU SEE IT, no matter the public reaction. WE SALUTE OUR

ALUMNI

CHALLENGING

WHO PATH,

HAVE FOR

LIFE BE WITHOUT THEM? school magazine spring

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CHOSEN WHAT

THIS

WOULD

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

In the mid-1960s, I traveled to Washington, DC., in order to paint a portrait of Pennsylvania Governor Schaffer.

This experience was especially gratifying and it provided additional inspiration for my continued career. The painting is currently displayed in the governor’s office in Harrisburg.

What is the hardest or best part about being an artist in today’s national cultural climate?

The competition is difficult, and artists now need a professional agent to sponsor and promote their work. The best part about my career has been the joy of displaying my work at various venues and in prominent homes throughout the country.

Emilie Rivinus Bregy ’38 www.emiliebregy.com Describe your work and if there is something in particular you are exploring through your art.

I specialize in landscapes, abstracts, and portraiture. My work is focused on oil-based landscapes of Maine where I spend my summers. I have produced unique representations of the rocky shoreline and the natural environment.

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

I spent a year in Italy as a young adult which sparked a lifelong appreciation for art. Academic coursework at the Tyler School of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts provided formal training. My art was further enriched during a 25-year career as a guide at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

Spending time in Italy as a teenager sparked my future career as an artist. As an adult, I have been inspired by artists such as Wolf Kahn and Oscar Bluemner.

What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

In addition to portraits of family and friends, I have painted many portraits of well-known politicians and judges. Finding the time and opportunity to have these important people pose for their portraits was certainly a challenge. However, eventually having my portraits displayed in prominent locations throughout the country has been very gratifying.

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JOseph castle ’79 www.castlesculpture.com Describe your work and if there is something in particular you are exploring through your art.

Presently, I have returned to working with the human form with the series called Intimate Stranger. This was the result of visiting Walter Reed Hospital and the untimely death of my father. Intimate Stranger embodies the tension of opposites.

This series is a progression of sculptures that examined my private world and initiated with the passing of my father.

Suddenly, I was forced to look inward and reflect on my fear to be intimate with myself. Unpleasant and unfamiliar with

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this world, I pursued it with reluctance. It is in these waters that I found an unanticipated admission to the emotions that I anxiously repressed. The work provided for me an inner sanctuary.

The sculptures are made with hemp, rebar, and wax. I melt the wax and soak the hemp into the wax. I then place the hemp onto the rebar, my armature. To create unease, I manipulate the hemp to look like muscles and bones and expose the rebar.

I then make a mold and proceed with the lost-wax process which results in a bronze sculpture.

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

When I went to Walter Reed Hospital and saw the courage and will of our disabled vets. They are my heroes!!!

What is the hardest or best part about being an artist in today’s national cultural climate?

The hardest part, I think, is twofold—technology and a culture that does not appreciate art. Due to these issues young artists are being lifted into prominence without the maturity and time I think it takes to make a strong, compelling body of work.

What trends do you see in your discipline and

Art, for me, started in junior high when I made a baseball bat that I used that season. It was that process that highlighted my junior high years and fostered a love for the three dimensional. I arrived at CHA with the stigma that boys and men don’t do art and then I met Barbara Crawford. In her class ­­­in the basement she allowed me to play the blues and shared with me her world—ART. After graduating from college I worked as an apprentice for Myron Barnstone, in Allentown, PA, who provided a rigor for my craft that I greatly needed. With time I gained a vocabulary and the skills to go out on my own.

how have/might they impact your own work?

Technology is incredible and offers my discipline new and quicker ways to make art.

What do you feel is the role of art?

Oh BOY!!! To make personal work that reaches universally.

To find my own voice I moved to rural Idaho and it is there that I established myself in galleries, public art, and with collectors. It is also there that I moved my style from the Relationship Series to The Things We Carry. The raw landscape and wildlife became my muse. The departure also removed me from Myron’s influence.

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

After college, I went to graduate school to be a teacher.

I found myself drawing and from that I concluded that I needed to get this art thing out of my system. That was 35 years ago and I have yet to get “the art thing” out of my system.

What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

The biggest challenge is writing or talking about my work. I have never been known for my linguistic finesse and my art is extremely personal so it makes it hard for me to express.

The most gratifying­—starting a a new piece. For me it is the moment when you see what you have drawn come alive in a three-dimensional form.

Cecelia Condit ’66 www.ceceliacondit.com

If you could be a work of art (any medium), what

Describe your work and if there is something

would you be and why?

in particular you are exploring through your

A writer first because I think it is the hardest of all the arts.

Second, carve in marble.

art.

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I have always been involved in the stories of women. Since 1981, I have created videos and heroines whose lives swing

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between beauty and the grotesque, innocence and cruelty, strength and fragility. My work puts a subversive spin on the traditional mythology of women in film and the psychology of sexuality and violence. Exploring the dark side of female subjectivity, my “feminist fairy tales” focus on friendships, age, violence, and occasionally the natural world.

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

I have received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, American Film Institute, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Mary L. Nohl Foundation. My work shows internationally and is represented in collections including the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, France.

I studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, received a BFA. in sculpture from the Philadelphia College of Art, and an MFA. from the Tyler School of Art of Temple University in photography. At present, I am professor emerita in the Department of Film, Video, Animation and New Genres at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Formerly, I was a professor and director of the graduate program in film for 30 years.

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

Both my parents were artists/painters, so from an early age they had a natural influence on my becoming an artist. And I must thank Elaine Weinstone who taught the high school art classes at Springside. She believed in me, and her support gave me a confidence that I wouldn’t have otherwise had.

What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

There are always challenging as well as gratifying aspects of creating art when you work from your own experiences.

Even as a child, I made books filled with drawings of women and girls. Making art was my way of exploring who I am.

Over the years, my “feminist fairy tales” have allowed me to work through challenging aspects of my life, and put them behind me. I wasn’t able to make a living off my work so I taught in universities and art schools where I was often the only woman. It wasn’t always simple back then—so many stories to tell, but hooray for #MeToo! If you could be a work of art (any medium), what would you be and why?

If I could be any work of art it would be a medium free from the long baggage of history. I like telling stories, and as a visual person, telling personal stories. Video/film has been a natural match-up for me.

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

The most surprising/inspiring experience I have had is this past summer when my video opera, Possibly in Michigan (1983), went viral on the performance app TikToc. Overnight, there were millions of young people performing to songs from Possibly in Michigan, “Oh no, no, no, no … silly” and “Animal Cannibal.” The attention from YouTube, Reddit, and Subreddits has been gratifying, and I try to enjoy it most days. There was an article published in the New York Times Style Magazine about it on November 7, 2019.

What is the hardest or best part about being an artist in today’s national cultural climate?

Well...#MeToo has changed the climate for women and girls in the arts. There is an urgency to the feminist community worldwide that I feel is iconoclastic, and that I am so happy to be a part of in any way I can. As a lifelong teacher of film I have had to become an extrovert, but as an artist I am an introvert, and that is too powerful an emotional need in me to put aside. But my heroes are those smart and brave women and men in the arts and politics who go into battle each day for the rights and dignity of us all.

What trends do you see in your discipline and how have/might they impact your own work?

The importance of environmental issues has been the biggest new development on my work. I have made two short environmental works, “Tales of a Future Past” (2018) and “Pizzly Bear” (2017).

What do you feel is the role of art?

I think the role of art is to present different ways of seeing the world. It is not the same as life. It can’t be confined to worldly conventions, norms, and how daily life must be lived.

I think the role of art is to present different ways of seeing the world. It is not the same as life. It can’t be confined to worldly conventions, norms, and how daily life must be lived. ~ C ec el i a C o n d i t

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I honestly don't remember wanting to do anything else. My eight-year-older brother, Scott, who is a drummer, is most certainly to blame for that. I first started to play piano at age six, and he seemed like a big deal to me. He was already playing drums in the middle school band. In 4th grade, I wanted to make a switch from playing violin because the sound was just too high for my ears. I remember never being able to get a nice sound out of that instrument. My brother suggested I switch to double bass and sold me on the fact that we'd be able to play together. I valued his advice as an 11-year-old as he was already a music conservatory freshman at Manhattan School of Music. I recall driving home from the Jersey Shore that summer when he played the CD, Cannonball and Coltrane. That was my first time hearing jazz and I was hooked.

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

Doug Drewes ’01 www.dougdrewes.com Describe your work and if there is something in particular you are exploring through your art.

I am a jazz double bassist and composer. I lead my own jazz trio, The Doug Drewes Trio, which performs my compositions as well as some of my favorite jazz standards.

I also perform regularly with The All Star Jazz Trio in Philadelphia and as a member of the group Sha'ar, a modern jazz quartet that explores the music of the Israeli composer Yedidia Admon.

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

I've been working professionally as a freelance bassist since graduating college in 2005. Since then I've recorded on 20 albums as sideman and released two records as a leader or co-leader. My bass playing has been featured in TV shows for MTV, IFC, and NBC. I've been fortunate to perform and record with a wide variety of artists in jazz, rock, bluegrass, and hip-hop and have performed in some amazing venues such as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall. In addition to performing and recording music, I am also a music educator. I currently have 15 private students and am a faculty member at The New York Jazz Academy and Trenton Music MaKers, a non-profit afterschool program.

The most gratifying part of performing music is when I really connect with a listener. I enjoy that moment when the room goes silent for the slow song or bass solo, and everyone is paying attention to what you're doing. It’s also really gratifying when the whole room is dancing and vibing with the music because it shows that I’m truly connecting with my audience. Those experiences take my playing to a higher level. Recently, I've had some younger musicians contact me through my Instagram account (@douglasdrewes) to tell me that my playing has really inspired them. Receiving messages like those are the best feeling! To know that my music is inspiring someone else gives me the fuel to practice more and continue to push my own playing to the next level.

What is the hardest or best part about being an artist in today’s national cultural climate?

The hardest thing about making music is the change in how the consumer values music. Paying for music or even owning music is a thing of the past. Recording new music can still be an expensive and time-consuming process. The question then becomes, “Is it still worth it for the artist if the chance of their selling any of the recordings is basically zero?” Unfortunately, recorded music has simply become free promotional material for live performances.

What do you feel is the role of art?

The role of art is to help us understand the human experience. Art is to help us make sense of this confusing world we live in. To share our experiences or emotions with each other and provoke thought in the consumer. Art is a way for us to communicate the abstract aspects of the human experience.

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

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What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

My income is not consistent—but the lack of security is met by a feeling of nirvana every time I turn the key to my studio door. The perks of being a painter is being able to spend your life painting.

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

Kids always tell me my art makes them want to paint. Other people have told me my pictures bring them a sense of peace and joy. To know that you are able to communicate through paint is gratifying.

What do you feel is the role of art?

Art is a positive artifact left by humans since the beginning of mankind.

Kathryn Lynch '79 www.kathrynlynch.com Describe your work and if there is something in particular you are exploring through your art.

My paintings are portraits of passing time. My subject matter is personal and at the same time universal.

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

February 27, 2020, solo show at Searspeyton Gallery NYC, upcoming group show at Steve Turner Gallery, L.A. In 2018 I was awarded a NYFA Fellowship. I have been invited to Yaddo, Skowhegan, VCCA, and this fall will paint in France at Moulin a Nef studio center in Auvillar, France. I have a MFA from the University of Pennsylvania where I studied with Neil Welliver.

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or

Flo McCall ’86 www.flomccall.com

someone that inspired your decision?

Describe your work and if there is something in

I entered Springside School in 11th grade and was greatly inspired by Elaine Weinstone's studio and art history courses. Her love of art was infectious, and she understood my connection and excitement about everything that had to do with leading a creative life. I remember visiting the Guggenheim with our art class. I stood in front of contemporary art, thought about the living artists who were making art their life, and knew that I too would be an artist.

particular you are exploring through your art.

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I am a portrait photographer, creating images on location and in the studio. I work closely with my subjects to create stunning images that make my subjects look the best they can. I also like to make my images a work of art. This is not necessary for every client, but I like to do my best to make a remarkable image. Working with light is my biggest tool as light is the key element for me in creating the image.

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Provide a brief background on your career to date.

I am celebrating 20 years of photographing the most fabulous families, kids, high school seniors, athletes, business people, and artists of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I also get to travel around the country doing what I love. I specialize in showcasing the love and joy of my subjects in beautiful wall portraits. Before settling in Jackson Hole (in what I call “My former life!”), I was born and raised in Philadelphia, went to the University of Colorado, and started my career as a photojournalist in San Francisco photographing businessmen for the San Francisco Business Times. But now I know my true calling is working with people who value portraits as much as I do.

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

One year after graduation from college I needed to pick a career, and photographing people came naturally to me so I jumped in 100%.

What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

The most challenging is not repeating my same style always, to try and do a new look, a new feel, new light, and make it contemporary and fresh.

If you could be a work of art (any medium),

Emery Schaffer ’14 www.emeryschaffer.com

what would you be and why?

Describe your work and if there is something

I would like to be music because it brings so much happiness and deep emotions for the listener.

in particular you are exploring through your

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

When I visualize before a photo session and it comes to life exactly how I wanted it in the final product.

What is the hardest or best part about being an artist in today’s national cultural

art.

I’m a playwright and an actor. My writing tends to lean into the world of dark comedy. I also love historical fiction and try to weave in history wherever I can. I’m particularly inspired by the works of Annie Baker, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Anton Chekhov. As an actor, I love to play strong, independent women. Bonus points if that role is also the comedic relief.

Provide a brief background on your career to

climate?

date.

The best part is that I feel that artists are being equally respected like those in many other careers, that they are treating us like we have real jobs, not pretend.

My plays have been presented/produced by The Tank NYC, Shakespeare On The Sound, the Long Island City One Act Festival (in which my short play “80 Percent” was a semifinalist), the Upright Citizens Brigade, and Brunch Theatre Company. I’ve performed with Shakespeare On The Sound, and at The PIT, UCB, and NYU Tisch, where I received my BFA in drama in 2018.

What trends do you see in your discipline and how have/might they impact your own work?

I see a trend for the use of natural light and less production.

This has impacted my work but I would like to return to how I first created my images with more production (lighting).

What do you feel is the role of art?

To give people pleasure either through visual or feeling or hearing. My art makes them remember people and it makes them happy.

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As for upcoming work, I have two original plays premiering in March 2020: A, My Name Is Allison (full length) at The Tank NYC, and “Becky Knows What Sex Is (10 minutes),” produced by Brunch Theatre Co. While I’m not in rehearsals, I’m working on my screenplay, which is the pilot episode for an anthology series about the history of immigration through New York’s Lower East Side.

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When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

It’s hard to narrow it down to just one moment! I would argue that I choose to dedicate my life to my career every day. In a career as emotionally charged as this one, it’s so important to check in with yourself regularly about your wants and needs. A teacher of mine once told me that if there’s anything, literally anything, I’d rather do with my life, do that thing instead. And they were right because pursuing a life in theatre can be very difficult to sustain. So when I find myself really feeling down, doubtful, or even just thinking about my career in general, I ask myself if it’s what I want. So far the answer is still "yes!"

If you could be a work of art (any medium), what would you be and why?

A TV show with a strong ensemble cast. I’ve recently become obsessed with the show Schitt’s Creek. It has me laughing hysterically, and then the next thing I know I’m crying. It’s honest, relatable, and exactly the kind of work I strive to create.

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related

www.7wonders.com

to your art?

I’m currently in rehearsals for my first original full-length play. It’s called A, My Name Is Allison, and it’s my largest production to date. As someone who has spent so much time on stage, I’m learning so much about my role as a member of the production team. This process has tested my strength in many, many ways. So many things can go wrong while making independent theatre happen. I’m learning to roll with it! Something that I intend to carry with me into my future work is the gratitude I feel towards my team for caring for my play just as much as I do. They’re somehow just as passionate about making my play happen as I am, and I feel so incredibly lucky. Though this process has been extremely challenging at times, I pretty much can’t wait to write a new play and do it all over again.

What is the hardest or best part about being an artist in today’s national cultural climate?

I think it’s an incredibly exciting time to be an artist right now. There is so much happening in our country and the world, and so much that is in need of change. It’s incredible to think that I have the power to make a change with my art, no matter how small or insignificant seeming. The hard part of this is the fear that comes with putting yourself and your views out there for people to agree or not agree with. But in my opinion, fear means that I really care. That’s all I need to move forward. If I feel afraid, I know that means I have to do it.

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Stephen Skeel '13

2020

Describe your work and if there is something in particular you are exploring through your art.

I started a video production agency committed to telling stories with a lasting emotional impact. We produce shortform content ranging from commercial work to short documentaries.

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

As part of my time while at SCH, I studied video production in the VidCast studio extensively. After graduating in 2013, I attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts for film production.

I co-founded a video production agency, 7 Wonders Cinema, with another NYU student. The company has grown, with a full-time staff based in Philadelphia and San Francisco. 7 Wonders has collaborated on film content with National Geographic, The Atlantic magazine, MercedesBenz, Expedia, Blue Shield of California, and others.

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

When I was eight, I was at a sleepover with a friend who showed me Star Wars for the first time. When the film was over, I knew that I wanted to do THAT—to put images like what I had just seen on the screen. Ever since that moment, it has been a process of how to get there.

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What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

The most challenging aspect of what I do is the uphill battle to gain credibility in this industry and build a business. We have had a lot of success so far, but there are many who have said we are too young or not experienced enough. This makes it so gratifying when we get to work with brands and organizations that we love and respect. Overall, however, the most gratifying aspect of what I do is seeing the reactions of people who watch our work for the first time.

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

We produced a film about two years ago called All American about one of the last surviving paratroopers from D-Day. The film had a successful festival run and ultimately was distributed by National Geographic. The most satisfying moment for me was when we held a private screening at SCH for the subject of the documentary and his family. It was incredibly powerful and emotionally rewarding to see him watch his life unfold on screen.

What trends do you see in your discipline and how have/might they impact your own work?

One of the exciting trends happening in the film industry is the newfound appreciation for documentary content.

Platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO are releasing more and more true-story pieces of all lengths. Not so long ago, documentaries were often reserved for educational purposes. With the advent of smaller, more transportable equipment and a lower barrier to entry, documentary pieces are able to be the same quality as feature films. We love creating real human stories, so it is an exciting trend to be a part of as we work with our clients.

Spencer Sweeney ’89 www.artsy.net/artist/spencer-sweeney Describe your work and if there is something in particular you are exploring through your art.

Painting and drawing, mainly interpretations of things that I see around me day-to-day.

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

Barbara Crawford basement art studio, CHA; Friends Select School, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Moved to NYC; solo shows at American Fine Arts in 2001 (first), Gavin Brown Enterprises in 2004, and Gagosian in 2019.

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

T he hard part is the fear that comes with putting yourself and your views out there for

At one point in my youth I decided that I would work for myself and I guess there was no turning back at that point.

What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

people to agree or not agree

The most challenging part of the process at times is having the strength to remain patient with yourself. Patience is also ultimately the resolve to the challenge.

with. But in my opinion, fear

Has there been an experience that you found

means that I really care. That’s all I need to move forward. ~ Em ery S c h a ffer

particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

Studying with Barbara Crawford at CHA who introduced me to Jungian psychology. This was a significant awakening, and her teachings have stayed with me since then.

What do you feel is the role of art?

Art creates whatever role it serves uniquely and anew, whenever it happens. school magazine spring

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Felix von Moschzisker ’61 www.studiofelix.com Describe your work and if there is something in particular you are exploring through your art.

I make abstract sculpture. My current work is like … well … an explosion in a chopstick factory. That’s how a friend described it. I took it as a compliment. My hope is to agitate the brain cells of the viewer, to create new thoughts and feelings. That’s how ideas are produced and then passed along from generation to generation. This is so important!

It took ideas to invent the wheel, the cotton gin, and yes, the cell phone. Without art in all its many forms helping to stir up those brain cells, we would not have had anywhere near as many ideas going back in history. In fact, our species might still be living in the trees.

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

I have been making sculpture for well over 50 years. In the beginning I did figural work in my spare time: dogs and cats and human figures. Then in the early 80s I started carving these huge logs from the elm trees that were dying from disease along the roads here in Vermont. The town crews were taking them down one by one. The shapes I made were smooth and curved. I was heavily influenced by the 20th century trailblazers Miro, Arp, Calder, Noguchi, and Henry Moore. I have also carved things in plaster and marble. Some were cast in bronze. But I had a problem: I always felt like I was walking around inside the head of some other artist. It bugged me. What I was after was originality.

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Then a few years ago, I finally came up with something I could call my own—these jagged wooden structures. I love ‘em! Actually I can’t really call those pieces totally my own.

When I first got the idea for them (this is really pretty bizarre) it came straight out of a 5th grade CHA art class project taught by Barbara Crawford way back in 1953. It was in that studio down in the basement that some of us will remember.

Talk about the power of ideas. That one stayed hidden, untouched and unused, in the back of my brain for 60 years.

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

I started out in journalism after college and wound up writing at LIFE Magazine. Then things sort of slid sideways and I became a very small-time publisher in a Vermont ski town. In the early 80s I saw a large piece of abstract carved wooden sculpture at a local gallery, and I was fascinated. I had always wanted to make something like that! So I looked up the artist, who lived about an hour away. In about five minutes, he explained what tools to use and I was launched.

What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

Seeing something real and valid come out of nothing is enormously exciting. It’s always a special thrill. I suppose the challenge part is the process of tracking down thought fragments floating around in your head and mixing them up together until they make some sort of sense. You might be thinking about an exciting finish to a baseball game, or the taste of a juicy peach on a summer day, or a particularly

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moving passage in a novel, or the smell of clam chowder, or an old doo-wop song from the 50s—that sort of thing.

Usually you can’t really put your finger on whatever it is, if anything at all.

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

A couple of years ago, I started posting photos of my work on Instagram. This led to following the work of other artists on Instagram. I quickly discovered there were quite a few painters doing abstract expressionist work that I really liked a lot. That’s putting it mildly. In truth, I was totally infatuated.

Before long, I decided I just had to try it myself. So I started buying brushes and paints and paper and canvas, and now I am totally into it. It’s going pretty well. Who knows. Maybe I’ll even give up making sculpture!

What is the hardest or best part about being an artist in today’s national cultural climate?

The name of the game is exposure. For an artist, until recently, the hardest part about gaining exposure has been finding a gallery, or galleries, to provide it. The galleries were a brutal bottleneck through which most artists had to battle their way in order to reach the world outside. With the advent of the Internet, this became no longer the case.

There are now many, many ways artists can display, and sell, their work directly to the public, even the world-wide public.

Thus, they do an end run around the galleries. Ironically, the galleries can also use the Internet to gain exposure for the artists they represent.

Victoria Walls ’12 Grammys performance Describe your work and if there is something in particular you are exploring through your art.

I am a commercial dancer in Los Angeles, California.

My art is to entertain people through music videos, live performances, commercials, TV shows, movies, and more!

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

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1. Brooke Wiliiams with the York Street Hustle band 2. Book cover design

by Elizabeth Yaffe 3. Piece from Intimate Stranger series by Joseph Castle

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I have been a dancer for almost all of my life, training in many styles of dance such as ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern, and tap. I went to George Washington University after graduation from Springside and got my BA degree in business administration with a concentration in event management. During my time at GW I danced for the collegiate dance team, First Ladies, and a hip-hop crew, Capital Funk. After college I worked as an event consultant for almost two years while longing to continue dance.

In 2018 I packed my bags and moved to Los Angeles to dance full-time. With a lot of hard work I have been able to dance on TV for award shows, music videos, a commercial, and several live performances. One of my biggest accomplishments to date was dancing for Lizzo in the most recent Grammy Awards!

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

I think my life has always been dedicated to art. I have had

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a passion for dance since I was a young child. It started off as a hobby and quickly became something that I was passionate about. I decided that it was going to be my career full-time in 2017. I went to the Beyoncé concert, who is one of my favorite artists, and realized I am meant for the stage. Seeing her dancers was such an inspiration, and I knew I had to be a full-time dancer. At that very moment I decided to start my journey to move to L.A. What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

One of the most challenging aspects of the creative process for commercial dance is finding a balance between appealing to the masses and staying true to yourself.

Dancing on such public platforms it can be easy to struggle with self-image and body positivity, especially with social media being a big part of my industry. One of the most gratifying parts is staying true to myself and knowing that whatever opportunities are for me will be absolutely perfect.

If you could be a work of art (any medium), what would you be and why?

Edgar Degas’ The Dance Class. I would love to experience ballet back in the earlier stages of dance.

Brooke Williams ’98 www.brookewmusic.com Describe your work and if there is something in

Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

Dancing for Lizzo at the Grammys this past January has been one of the most gratifying experiences to date. From the rehearsal process to the day of the show, it was such a pleasure being a part of such a monumental moment in her career, and mine as well. I never thought that I would be a ballet dancer at the Grammys, especially so early in my professional career. Being on a stage with all the beautiful women musicians and dancers was such an amazing experience.

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I am a professional vocalist. I perform covers of other artists' work and I co-write songs as well.

Provide a brief background on your career to date.

I began singing and taking piano lessons at the age of two. I studied with various vocal coaches throughout my formative years. While studying abroad at New York University in Florence, Italy, I received vocal instruction from a notable British opera singer. After returning to the United States, I studied music at the Esther Boyer College of Music at Temple University.

I have collaborated with various producers and musicians on a variety of projects in different genres performing in many prominent venues including The Kimmel Center, Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus, Johnny Brenda’s, World Café Live, L’Étage, Grape Street Pub, and Rembrandt’s.

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2 1. Painting by Spencer Sweeney 2. Video by Stephen Skeel and 7 Wonders Cinema 3. Victoria Walls

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particular you are exploring through your art.

2020

While performing with and being a member of the neo-soul group, Bosco & Peck, I had the opportunity to take part in several national music festivals including Dewey Beach Music Conference, Virgin College Mega Tour, The Mayfair Festival of the Arts, and the 1st Annual Looptopia Festival in Chicago, Illinois. More recently, I provided the lead female vocals for The York Street Hustle, a nine-piece 60s soul ensemble based in Philadelphia. I have also performed with local indie soul artist, Aaron Parnell Brown, and his band. I’m currently working on a debut solo album, which is scheduled for release next year.

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When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

I've always been a performer—since I was old enough to talk. My late father was a singer and classically trained pianist. He used to sing to me using a microphone. Music was always a part of my household and upbringing. I inherited my talent from my father. Whenever he was upset or feeling stressed he would play "Claire de Lune" by Debussy on his prized possession, a Steinway grand piano.

What are the most challenging and gratifying aspects of your creative/artistic process?

The most challenging aspect is how difficult it is to make a living making music. Most musicians I know must work several jobs in order to make ends meet. The most gratifying is doing what I love and having an outlet for expressing my inner emotional world.

If you could be a work of art (any medium), what would you be and why?

I'd be watercolors. I am transparent and versatile. I can be delicate (emotionally) at times. I get along well with adults and children alike. I love water and really appreciate its properties.

Elizabeth Yaffe ’10 www.elizabethyaffe.com Describe your work and if there is something

Has there been an experience that you found

in particular you are exploring through your

particularly gratifying or inspiring related

art.

to your art?

I design book covers. In terms of process, while the final work is always digital, I'm trying to spend as much time as possible creating off the computer, which means a lot of handwriting, cutting out, and painting, especially for fiction.

Content-wise though, my work is always driven by the books themselves. Whether fiction or non-fiction, the authors have already laid the groundwork for the cover in the text and it's my job to uncover their clues in a way that will entice a reader to pick up the book. To answer the question that everyone asks: Yes, we absolutely read the books!

I had my first international recording experience last spring in Spain. That was a dream come true for sure!

What is the hardest or best part about being an artist in today’s national cultural climate?

It's a gift to be an artist during a time of such political and cultural turbulence. Artists can influence and reflect culture in so many tangible ways. We are influencers and creators.

What a blessing!

Provide a brief background on your career to What trends do you see in your discipline and how have/might they impact your own work?

I really enjoy seeing artists experiment with fusing sounds and instruments from different genres. I'm looking forward to experimenting myself with combining genres and sounds in ways that have rarely or never been heard in the past.

What do you feel is the role of art?

Art is a tool. It is also a mirror—culturally, socially, politically, and personally.

date.

I was hired at Penguin Random House as an administrative assistant in the art department in 2015. After a year or so, I convinced the creative director to let me try my hand at designing mechanicals, which means designing everything (spine, back, flaps) besides the front cover. It's pretty much the bottom of the book-cover-design foodchain. From there, I started receiving cover assignments for the Viking/ Penguin imprints, spent a brief stint working on business books for the Portfolio imprint, and then made the jump from Penguin to HarperCollins, where I am now a fullfledged designer at Ecco.

When did you decide to dedicate your life and career to art, and was there something or someone that inspired your decision?

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There wasn't any one moment when I decided to become a designer, but I've always loved to read, and I've always loved to make stuff. Book cover design is the natural intersection of those two things. Most people I work with went to art school though, which wasn't even on my radar when I was applying to colleges, making me a bit of an anomaly. Once I made up my mind to pursue publishing after college—tech and film were also strong contenders—I was lucky to land in a department that's led by some of the best designers in the industry where I was able to learn by example on the job. I'll always be a reader first though, so lots of credit is also due to all the books I read along the way, the authors who wrote them, and the people who put them in my hands.

What are the most challenging and gratifying

something feels like a trend now, it will feel even more overdone a year from now. I've noticed lots of plants, snakes, birds, and flames recently. I've had a couple of projects where they've been unavoidable (there is a reason they're popular!), but in general I'm trying to steer clear of that imagery unless I can come up with a smart way to use it that feels new.

Something else that is on everyone's mind is how to make covers stand out at a thumbnail size because so many people are buying books on their phones. Whether or not something is still legible as a thumbnail is constantly a balance we're trying to strike, and it is the culprit for a number of the trends you'll see in a bookstore: really big type, bold graphics, and often bright colors.

aspects of your creative/artistic process?

I've found one of the most challenging parts of the book design process to be balancing an artistic vision with the wants and needs of all the people who get a say in what the cover should look like. The author, editor, publisher, marketing team, and sales team all have veto power at different points along the way, so there are a lot of people who have to agree to a design before it ends up on a shelf.

As a designer, that means adapting a design in response to criticism, being smart about which battles are worth picking, and sometimes, starting over completely. It's easy enough to make changes to something when asked, but simultaneously maintaining the artistic integrity of your design is an equilibrium I'm still finding.

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Has there been an experience that you found particularly gratifying or inspiring related to your art?

Designers do not often get to meet the authors—the editors act as liaison—but shortly after I finished designing my first novel, the author asked to meet me to say thank you and to discuss the cover I had designed. It was such a nice gesture, especially since it was one of my first projects, and we ended up having a good conversation about the book. She was only a few years older than me and was just as excited to have a book published as I was to have designed the cover for it.

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More generally, it is always gratifying to go into a bookstore and see a book I've worked on on a table among covers designed by people I admire. The book design community is a really small group and everyone knows everyone else, so not only is it always fun to see what they've all been working on, it's a good reminder of how lucky I am to get to do this professionally.

1. Photo by Cecelia Condit 2. Painting by Kathryn Lynch 3. Painting by Emilie Bregy 4. Portrait by Flo McCall 5. Sculpture by Felix von Moschzisker 6. Doug Drewes in session 7. Emery Schaffer in her production, A, My Name is Allison

What trends do you see in your discipline and how have/might they impact your own work?

We work about a year in advance of a book going on sale, so we're always trying to anticipate and avoid trends; if

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7

Campaign to Restore the

REC

SCH is currently undertaking an ambitious plan to restore the Rec and create a multipurpose state-of-the-art performance venue. The renovation will enhance both the performer and audience experience with expanded audience seating, a modular stage system, upgraded sound and lighting, expanded dressing rooms, increased storage space, additional bathrooms, and a dramatic glass-walled lobby.

A Brief History Built at the same time as the Inn in 1884, the Rec originally served as the Inn’s stable, housing up to 90 horses and the grooms who tended them, as well as other period transport—carriages, sleighs, and the occasional gentleman’s roadster. The building served this purely utilitarian role until 1902, when Chestnut Hill Academy, which had taken over the Inn a few years before, converted the stable to a gymnasium.

Over the ensuing 50 years, the Rec’s spacious interior served diverse athletic purposes, as a baseball field; basketball, squash, and tennis courts; wrestling room; and for many years, a badminton facility for the local Wissahickon Badminton Club.

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In the early 1950s, part of the Rec’s aging structure (the former grooms' residence) collapsed, weakened from years of erosion by an underground stream feeding into the Wissahickon. The remaining structure continued to be used for badminton until 1973 when it was restored and reclaimed for an entirely different purpose—as a performing arts facility and home of the Players, the school’s respected acting troupe.

Be Part of the Rec's Future For many SS, CHA and SCH alumni, the Rec is a special home—the place where some of their fondest school memories reside. From the Green Room to the stage to the lighting and sound booth, hundreds of students have learned powerful lessons in teamwork and theater skills within the walls of this historic building.

Please consider participating in the restoration of this precious and historical piece of school history and help us make it a proud home for future generations who will take to the stage as Players.

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Participating Artists

Restore the Rec Giving Categories The following sponsorships will be listed in the SCH Annual Report and will receive donor signage in the

Emilie Rivinus Bregy ‘38

Trudi Green Smith ‘86

renovated Rec.

Louise Roberts Johnston ‘58

Jennifer Simons Clark ‘87

Theodore Clattenburg, Jr. ‘59

Christina Morse Kelly ‘87

MY FAIR LADY $500,000

HARVEY $10,000

MAMMA MIA! $250,000

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS $5,000

OUR TOWN $100,000

WIND IN THE WILLOWS $2,500

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM $50,000 THE MIKADO $25,000

Sandra McLaughlin McFarland ‘65 Vanessa Learnard ‘89 Patricia Brock Ingersoll ‘66

Stephanie Thibodeau Schade ‘89

Lisa Webb Howe ‘68

Mark S. Stehle ‘93

Arthur W Howe ‘68

Michael Clattenberg Stieffenhofer ‘03

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST $1,000

Steven Lesser ‘68

Elizabeth Harkins ‘04

Linda Butler ‘69

Kimberly M. Ashby ‘07

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL $500

Susan Lowry ‘71

Walter Wynne ‘07

Binney Meigs ‘72

John L. Harris Jr ‘09

Beth Lewis Thorp ‘74

Stephen Skeel ’13

Victoria McNeil LeVine ‘75

Sarah Schacht ‘14

Judy McCabe Jarvis ‘77

Mac McHugh ‘15

R. Bruce Glendinning ‘78

Avery S. Nunn, ‘15

Diana H. Ikeda’78

Robert Hass ‘16

Joseph Castle ‘79

Gabriella M. Belmonte ‘17

Kathryn Lynch ‘79

Alec Druggan ‘17

Wendy Romig Concannon ‘82

Madeline Harris ‘17

Bibby Detweiler Loring ‘84

Judy Callas ha

Mana Khandvala ‘85

Mary Ann Domanska ha

Betsy Roxby ‘85

Diane Ross ha

To learn more about a named opportunity, contact Jenny McHugh, Director of Development, at jmchugh@sch.org.

Alumni Art Show in Support of the Rec In early December, SCH hosted an Alumni Art Show and Sale to raise funds for the restoration of the Rec. Over 130 alumni and friends joined us for the show. Forty-four alumni artists from Springside, CHA, and SCH exhibited 80 pieces of artwork—35 of which were sold at the event and in our online store. A massive thank you to our co-chairs, Christy Morse Kelly ‘87 and Pia Druggan, for organizing the event!

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The Rec transformed into an art gallery.

C L A S S NOTE S NEWS FROM OUR ALUMNI NEAR AND FAR

1960s

1975

1962

Nanette Hopkins reports,

Dulcy Renner Kushmore organized 21 of her classmates to come together for a mini class reunion in Chestnut Hill. They enjoyed a tour of the new Lower School and then lunched at Valley Green Inn. While on tour, they stopped in a 4th grade girls’ classroom, and the best question of the day was “Were there lights when you were here?” Kids say the funniest things!!

“I am a visual artist living and creating art on the west coast of Florida. I graduated from Moore College of Art in 1980. After owning an advertising and design firm, I moved to the Caribbean and began a career in pottery.

I moved to Florida in 1990 and continued creating my pottery, exhibiting in galleries and fine art shows.”

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Alumnae Visit New Lower School

Members of the Class of 1962, relax in front of the fireplace in the new Lower School Lobby after a special tour (l to r): Martha Matzke, Ginio Morris, Carol Manning Allen, Trish Baggs Nemore, Carol Bregy Reznikoff, Peggy Davison Freeman, Babbie Landreth Rodgers, and Kate Peters Gribbel.

1970s 1971 David Sims was named Washington State "Sportscaster of the Year" for the second consecutive year by the National Sports Media Association. He is in his 14th year of broadcasting for the Seattle Mariners on ROOT Sports and the Mariners' Radio Network. In addition to his baseball duties, Dave also co-hosts “Basketball and Beyond with Coach K” on Sirius XM Radio with longtime Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. Dave still loves the Philadelphia Eagles and says, “Sports brings people together. It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white, old or young, liberal or conservative.”

John Kellogg writes, “After completing an undergraduate degree in accounting in 1980, I accepted a ‘temporary’ position in the family studio (Willet), which rapidly developed roots. I subsequently completed the apprenticeship program to become a qualified journeyman in the stained glass craft and took over the management of the studio’s

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accounting and administrative functions. In 1986, while attending night school for a MBA degree at Drexel University, I received the opportunity to go to Paris, France, as an exchange student at the French business school ESCP. I decided to accept the opportunity and take a leave of absence from the studio for one semester. I also combined this with a second exchange with the Ateliers Loire, a renowned family stained glass studio in Chartres, France. While in Paris, I met a French woman whom I would later marry and that changed

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everything. I extended my stay at the university to complete my MBA program abroad, which I complemented with a MS degree from the French university. When the company that recruited me for an internship in their financial department asked if I would be interested in a full-time position, I said yes.

That decision triggered an

KEEP IN TOUCH Wedding bells? New baby?

Career change?

Share your news at alumni@sch.org

Common Pleas. He joins fellow CHA alumni Brad Moss ‘70, Joffie Pittman ‘87, and Edward Wright ‘82, who also have the honor of serving in the First Judicial District.

1981

deserved retirement from University Barge Club after 40 years. Bruce dedicated 25+ years coaching the Springside and CHA crew teams. CHA alumni celebrating Bruce at the University Barge Club (l to r): Pete Seymour ’04, Karl Spaeth ’84, Brennan Preine ’77, and Brian McLelland ‘82.

1983 Lynne Bey, associate director at Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Company, received the Modern Day Technology Leaders Award at the BEYA STEM (Black Engineer of the Year Awards) conference in Washington, DC.

Berman Wedding at Valley Green Inn Springside classmates Robin Dilks, Mollie Braverman, and Lili Sharpless were among those who celebrated Morgan and Edward's wedding at Valley Green Inn in July.

over-25-year financial career in Paris, during which time I enjoyed raising my five children, four from my first marriage and the fifth with my partner of the past 25 years, Sophie. By 2012, the kids were mostly on their own and Sophie and I jumped on the opportunity to leave corporate politics and city life to build a project focusing on our mutual passion for glass. I honed my stained glass skills by training and working at a Parisian studio and returning to the Ateliers Loire in Chartres. Sophie entered a glass-trade school in Moulins, France, and has received two degrees in decorative glass processes (etching, engraving, fusing, and blasting...). During this time, we fell in love with the city of Moulins, which is located three hours south of Paris in the center of France, and we started to search for a location for our project. In 2015, we learned that the Diocese of Moulins intended to place a chapel on the market. We immediately organized a visit, and found the perfect location. The purchase was finalized at the end of 2017 at about the same time that we moved into our new home, which is

a 10-minute walk from the chapel. We are now finalizing specifications for the restoration of the chapel, which will be converted into a multifunctional venue focusing on, but not limited to, the glass trade. The chapel is built in the form of a cross and we will install three studios: stained glass, glass blowing, and decorative glass. Photo courtesy of François-Xavier/GUTTON.

Anita Brooke Beck and Jeffrey Beck’ 82 welcomed their granddaughter, Riley Lansing Beck, on October 30, 2019.

1982

1977 Anne Matlack writes, “I am a professional choral conductor, organist, and voice, flute, and keypoard teacher. You can visit the website of my 100-voice choral society at www. harmonium.org. We are well known in the NJ area for excellence, commissioning, outreach, education, and eclectic programing.

We also have a YouTube channel. My church website is www.gracemadison.org/ music-staff, where I direct many choirs and a concert series.

In December, Cateria McCabe was appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf to serve in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, for two years, presiding over family court cases. She will run for judge in the 2021 primary to be elected to serve a full term.

1980s 1980 John Padova was appointed as a judge to the Court of

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Brian McLelland celebrated Bruce LaLonde’s well-

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1986 Trudi Smith writes, “I have worked as a professional artist and art educator for the past 30 years. Over this time, I’ve shown my work in galleries and museums, and have sold work to collectors throughout the US and abroad. I’ve worked as an art teacher at Lower Moreland High School outside Philadelphia for the past 15 years, and before that, taught art in Mississippi, Virginia, and Italy. I earned my BA at U. Penn, and my master’s in art education at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I would also like to add that I have been busy raising two boys (19 and 21) and live in Wyndmoor, PA.

1990s 1991 Eliza Griswold published her second book of poems in February, If Men, Then.

Named #41 of the best books to read in 2020 by Vogue magazine.

Join us for the CHA & Springside Alumni Association Awards Ceremony Alumni Weekend Friday, September 25 | 5:00 pm Epiphany Chapel, The Wissahickon Inn

company—their potential to be incredibly successful (not to mention potential to have an impact across global society), the fact that I was recruited by and will be working for a Boston area chief marketing officer I’ve admired for years, pivoting to a new role I’m very excited about, ClimaCell’s nonprofit arm which seeks to provide valuable weather data/alerts to countries that need it, etc.“

2006

springside awards Young Alumna Award: Anne Eisenhower Turnbull ‘05 Distinguished Service Award: Nadine Badger Stevenson ‘90 Distinguished Alumna Award: Allison Scott ‘74

cha awards Young Alumnus Award: John Cella ‘04 Alumnus of the Year: Bob Peck ‘70 Francis P. Steel Jr. ‘77 Award: Charles Landreth ‘66 Roll of Fame Award: Syd Lea ‘60

sch honorary awards: Aimee Keough, Assistant Director of Athletics, Girls' Head Athletic Trainer Maria McNichols, Assistant to the Head of School Joyce Seiferth, Administrative Assistant, Early Childhood Center Brian Walter, Director of College Counseling

sch players award Hall of Fame Award: Lesley Wolff ’89 Special Service to Players Award: Leland L. Smith h’03†

Whitney Manly-Power and David Ponzio welcomed their daughter, Remi Mae Ponzio, on August 31, 2019.

This bundle of joy is keeping mom and dad quite busy!

Taylor Rooke welcomed a daughter, Sylvia Rooke, on January 31, 2020.

2008

2000s 2002 Kreamer Rooke welcomed a son, Merrill Rooke, on January 20, 2020.

2003

Ali Pearson married Charles Whitney “Whit” Webster III on October 5, 2019, in Lake Tahoe, CA.

in Philadelphia. (See photo on page 36.)

Simon Rogers ‘03 and Meghan Curry Rogers ‘03 welcomed Nora Lee Rogers on November 9, 2019! They are thrilled with their new arrival and can’t wait for Nora to join the class of 2037 at SCH!

In January, Ali Mainka joined a new company called ClimaCell as their product marketing director.

ClimaCell’s exclusive technology and data from hundreds of proprietary sources provides downto-the-minute weather forecasts that are 70% more accurate than anything currently available. Ali says, “There’s so much I’m excited about with this

2004 Morgan Berman married Edward Drakhlison on July 26, 2019, at Valley Green Inn

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Alex Blenheim and Kierston Anderson celebrated their wedding on October 5, 2019, at Mellon Garden and the Ace Hotel in Pittsburgh.

(See photo on p.38.)

Susanna Payne-Passmore is an award-winning and internationally-performed composer, creating music that balances grounded power with a playful lyricism. She recently graduated from the University of Oregon with a master’s in music composition and the highest graduate award after writing and premiering an

hour-long chamber opera, Captain, and founding the Composers of Oregon Chamber Orchestra, a student-led ensemble dedicated to premiering new student orchestral works. Susanna is a Fulbright recipient and was a finalist for the 2015 Morton Gould Award. She enjoys sipping tea, playing with cats, devouring books, and plotting new librettos.

Mira Treatman is the producer of The Rocky Awards, Philadelphia’s awards for dance and performance. After a three-year hiatus, Mira brought the awards back to showcase the Philadelphia dance community. Mira is also a writer and editor at thINKingDANCE, an online dance journal that provides coverage for dance, fosters the art of dance writing, and increases visibility for local dance. Mira works alongside classmate Kalila Kingsford Smith ‘08, who’s also a writer and editor.

“We’ve been colleagues in the performing arts ever since we met as 11-year-olds when we started Springside on the same day in 6th grade.”

2010s 2012

Reuben G. Treatman got engaged to Sharon Fass in Iceland over Labor Day weekend. They are planning a summer 2020 wedding in Philadelphia.

Blenheim Wedding

Front row: Melinda Immerman ‘10, Sam Franklin ’08, Courtney Blenheim Norian ’00 with Harper Norian, Alex Blenheim ’08 with Kierston Blenheim, Erik Blenheim ’98. Back row: Anna Tollar with Ryan Peirce ’08, Christian Grahm ’08, Sam Levin ’08, Joe Trinacria ’08, Matt Levin ’10, Henry Meigs ’08, John Tate ‘08

Kathryn Colina reports, “I recently released my first EP entitled Recovery, consisting of six songs that I recorded with my producer, Kevin Leach, in Nashville throughout 2019. The title of my EP was inspired by my recovery after a car accident that caused me to develop leg tremors and subsequently left me in a wheelchair by the end of 2017. The following year was a time of personal growth for me as I regained my ability to walk and really began delving into my passion for songwriting.

The songs range from Pop to Americana to Jazz and feature Nashville artists including Lester Estelle II, Wanda Vick Burchfield, Rashaan Barber, and Scify. I am very excited and honored to share this labor of love. I have another EP on the way with the first song dropping in summer 2020.”

You can listen to Kathryn’s music on Apple music and on Spotify.

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2019 Lilly Soroko reports that “the Amherst women’s squash team finished No. 16 in the country last year. I was voted team MVP as a first-year, so last year was, all in all, pretty good!”

On February 14th, Stevie Mack and Bobby Hill were featured on Good Morning Philadelphia and The Q Show on Fox 29 as members of a new a cappella group, 215-LOVE. Stevie is a music major at Syracuse University and Bobby will be attending Yale in the fall. You can follow 215-LOVE on Instagram @215lovesongs, on FB at 215 Love, and online at www.215-love.com.

In Memorium as of 2/29/20 1947 Elizabeth King Rodiger 1949 Ann Boyd Hastings 1950 Zara Bentley Roberts 1955 Charles Hatfield

1960 Joseph C. Tracy Bonnie Earley Foulke 1974 Raymond J. Perri 1997 Alexis Lyngard

1956 Henry I. Brown III

FACULTY

1957 John B. Prizer Jr.

Roberta Nehlig ha

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Charlotte Benner

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DO YOU KNOW THEM?

BE THE FIRST TO SUBMIT YOUR ANSWER AND WIN AN ALUMNA/ALUMNUS GIFT! Here’s what we need to know: Who’s in it? What are they doing? When did it happen? Send your responses to Deidra Lyngard, SCHool editor, at dlyngard@sch.org or call 215-754-1616 and we’ll publish your reminiscences in our next issue.

No one identified this CHA photo.

Monica Doran-Siltman, mother of Brendan ’08 and Mary ’14 Siltman, identified the girls’ photo: “Most girls are from 2007.

Whitney is 2006. Not sure of seated girl on far left, then Emily Winant, Emma McClafferty, Whitney Manly-Power in the white shirt, Kim Miller right rear, Katherine Kullman (Mary McKenna’s daughter), and sitting in the front, Sarah Souli. Assembly Board was a SS student ‘activity’ group that arranged the assemblies, guest speakers, etc. It was made up of all four years, grades 9 through 12.

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through the lens

INTEGRITY | COURAGE | DIVERSITY | THOUGHTFULNESS | RESILIENCE school magazine spring

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