Visual Arts

Visual Arts by Division

Lower School

Lower School artists use their creative voice to explore and express identity, culture and community. While growing their understanding of self, connections are built with others through sharing within their classroom communities, learning about creative people in many mediums, and connecting with visiting creative professionals who bring a range of perspectives.

Throughout Lower School, students are introduced to artistic concepts to expand on their understanding of methods and materials, and challenge their ability to think and create visually. They learn about sculpture, construction and painting among a wide variety of media and visual concepts. Classes are intentionally designed to integrate with other subjects such as Spanish, science, and social studies. As students progress through Lower School, they strengthen their artistic skills while exploring new mediums.

Middle School

Excitement and enthusiastic exploration permeate the Middle School art classrooms as students are exposed to a wide range of media, skills and visual concepts. Challenged to solve creative problems as they learn visual language, the program is developmental in nature based on priority learning outcomes which are determined and reviewed annually. For example, by the end of Middle School, each student will have learned how to use hand tools to work with wood and how a three-dimensional illusion is created on a two-dimensional surface.

Projects are connected to the larger world through cultural references, and interdisciplinary work is a cornerstone of the program. Students learn how to discuss their work and that of fellow students through group critiques, and the constant immediate exchange that occurs with classmates and the teacher is a result of the open seating arrangement. Media literacy and technology are introduced, where appropriate, throughout the program, as well.

Upper School

The Upper School Visual Arts curriculum provides opportunities for students to explore a range of art materials and processes, engage with the work of contemporary artists and designers, develop an understanding of the creative process, and bring to life their own unique artistic visions.

The InterArts sequence, for Classes 8 and 9, focuses on material exploration and concept development. More specialized elective, or FOCUS, courses are open to students in Classes 10-12 (see below). The full-year Advanced Art Studio course is available to students in Class 11 and 12 who are committed to deepening their artistic practice.

FOCUS Courses:

2-D Art & Design
3-D Art & Design
Advanced Art Studio
Drawing
Painting
Photography