Inspiration, Challenges, and New Prospects

Ellie Tracey ’24

This past month I was excited and honored to sit down with Mrs. Cheifer to talk about updates within the art classes at Villa. I loved learning about the amazing projects the art students are working on andherideasfortheupcomingschoolyear.Iwasalso curious to hear Mrs. Cheifer’s insight into the challenges Villa students have faced within the past school year and why art is so important for mental health.

What projects and pieces are your students currently working on? What was the inspiration behindgivingthemthisproject?

Currently, students are working with Photoshop. Inspired by artist/photographer David Hockney, students in Advanced Art were given the taskofcreatingaphotomontageofaspacetheypass by in their everyday life. Some girls chose places at Villa, while others depicted spaces in their own homes. Students were instructed to take a variety of photos of their chosen space, and altogether these photosmakeuptheentiremontage.

The Art and Design class is making advertisements in Photoshop from their most recent finished artwork. Students interested in fashion designed and created outfits to put on mannequins, while students interested in cartoons created comic strips. Both of these groups are required to incorporate a picture of their face or a person into their artwork. The architecture-focused group needed to incorporate photos of themselves and friends within the image of their architectural sculpture to show different perspectives of far and near.

What does the rest of the year look like for your art classes?

Sophomores and juniors have the option to paint the cover of their sketchbooks, while other students wish to make another dress for a mannequin. Students are also encouraged to try fabriccollageandpaintingonfabric.

Whywouldyouencouragestudentstotakeart?

It is great for their mental health and helps them to relax and access a creative part of themselves that they may not necessarily get to express in their academic classes. Many students are also surprised about what they are able to create. Art isagreatselfesteembooster.

Do you have any projects already in the works for thisupcomingschoolyear?

Next year, the first formal AP Art and Design course will be offered. The goal of this class is to prepare students to submit a portfolio at the end of senior year for college credit. Next year, each week will be more specific and planned out to each assignment. In this class, students choose a theme to stickwithtocreateacohesiveportfolio.

Have there been any artistic challenges your students have needed to solve in the last few months?

Preventingclayfromdryingouthasbeenabig challenge this year. Some students only have a Monday and Friday class which can make it tough to keep their clay projects at the correct moisture level. It is especially difficult when someone is sick, so a buddy system was put in place. For example, if a student was absent, their buddy could check on their clay for them and add moisture if needed. It can also be quite difficult to manage time when there is a holidayandstudentsmissaclass.