CELEBRATIONS
ABOVE LEFT: JARED AND TAMARA ZWICK, JACK AND CHASITY KUTTRUS P ‘23, ERIN AND JASON STONER P ‘22 ‘25 ‘26 ABOVE RIGHT: BENJAMIN RIGNEY-CARROLL ‘21, WILLIAM RIGNEY-CARROLL ‘24, BENNETT OBENOUR ‘21 BOTTOM: ARTS PREMIERE COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR ALYSON THOMPSON P ‘23 ‘27 WITH AUCTIONEER JON PETZ
Fine Arts, Fine Kids, Fine Times
W
ellington’s 2013 Arts Premiere “Singing in the Rain” was a full day celebration for the entire family that raised more than $175,000 for the school. Now that’s a cloud with a silver lining!
Entirely planned and carried out through the tremendous efforts of committee co-chairs Jen Thompson P ‘22 ‘23 ‘26 ‘27 and Alyson Thompson P ‘23 ‘27 with the help of many other parent volunteers, the day began with the first-ever Family Arts Fest. Kids, parents, and friends strolled through the school marketplace where they could either create their own work of art or purchase one from a student vendor. A student talent show featuring song and dance numbers took place as kids decorated bug jars, memory boxes, and flower pots, with the welcome aroma of cotton candy and popcorn filling the festive air. The Grand Finale evening event was truly a night to remember. Guests were greeted in the Rotunda with champagne and then ushered into the magically transformed ROHR. Gourmet hors d’oeurvres and drinks were served throughout the evening as friends enjoyed catching up with each other sans children at their side. Entertainment was provided by nationally-known speed painter Tim Decker who brilliantly created three iconic images on canvas in mere minutes right before the crowd’s eyes. His work was later sold during the live auction along with several other pieces of art created by Lower School students. The Hoo Doo Soul Band provided the live music that got everyone out on the dance floor. It was an upbeat ending to a wonderful day. All the money raised by Arts Premiere will go directly to funding the fearless learners of The Wellington School as they create the masterpiece that will be their future. 23 • WELLINGTON MAGAZINE
Wellington’s 30th Annual Student Art Show was on display throughout the school during the month of May. The showcased work was pulled throughout the year as individual units of study were completed. Students in all three divisions were encouraged to experiment broadly with multimedia like textiles, paints, photography, and clay to convey their thematic explorations. Lower School students painted their own impressionist renderings of Monet’s work, constructed collages, knitted with yarn, and created pop art. Middle School students looked deeply into topics like personal identity and style. They created narrative figures inspired by local artist Juliellen Byrne and painted their own Keith Haring-inspired pieces conveying his trademark frenetic style. Upper School students also explored the theme of identity through photographic self-portraits, drawings, and fiber art. For the first time in school history, the show was scheduled to coincide with Arts Premiere. With funding provided directly from money raised at last year’s Arts Premiere, visiting artists from the local community were brought to Wellington to work with students in creating permanent installations in the school. Lower School students learned how paper was made and then worked with artist Daniel Colvin to construct raw pulp into a single large sheet of paper. Their completed mural will be a permanent installation piece on display in The Abbott Family Learning Center. Famed graffiti artist Giovanni Santiago painted a wall mural in the Middle School Commons before students’ very eyes. “We only live once,” Santiago said. “But art lives forever.” Middle School art teacher Jayne Young was impressed with Santiago’s “message about ‘doing what you love’ and embracing your unique talents and gifts,” she said. “It supports what we try to teach every day at Wellington.”