The visual arts program is cumulative, and each year’s work is progressive, building upon the concepts, experiences, and skills acquired in previous years. Our program includes four aspects of the visual arts: studio work, art history, art criticism, and aesthetics, with the emphasis on the creation of artwork and the learning that takes place through this process. Students develop new ways of seeing, thinking, and expressing themselves.
Visualize a sky from your memory or imagination
Tempera Paint
Eights and Nines
Experiment with printing textures made by found objects and create a collage of a figure in a scene
Ink and paper
Eights and Nines
Create impressions on clay slabs
Clay, plants, flowers, leaves
Eights and Nines
Starting in the Early Childhood classes, children are offered basic unstructured materials, such as clay, paint, crayons, chalk, string, fabric, paper, scissors, glue, and tape. Materials are presented in a non-judgmental way and without specific instructions on how to use them or what to do with them, allowing students to experiment and examine the properties of the materials, reaching deep inside themselves to express their creative vision with the integrity of intellect and emotion. As children grow, they work with a greater variety of materials, which widens their repertoire and helps them delve deeper into the process.
Design and create a toy sculpture inspired by “Picasso Sculpture” at MoMA
Wood, paint, yarn, found objects
Tens and Elevens
Explore natural materials to create a site-specific sculpture in Central Park inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy
Leaves, sticks, stones, acorns, flowers, mud, grass
Middle school students
Observe yourself in the mirror and use proportions to create a self-portrait
Chalk Pastels
Tens and Elevens
As students continue to experiment throughout their elementary years, they use their curiosity, talent, and intellect to build a unique artistic vision. When ready, they are encouraged to share their ideas and begin to work with others. Together in this process of give-and-take, exchanging ideas and discussing artistic decisions, students learn to synthesize their individual vision into one complete artistic expression.
Transform paper strips into a three-dimensional hanging sculpture
Paper, staples, string
Twelves and Thirteens
Scratch an image that uses a variety of lines to form texture, positive and negative space
Scratch boards
Twelves and Thirteens
Use one-point perspective, paint an original composition
Acrylic Paint
Twelves and Thirteens
In Middle School, students are introduced to formal art techniques as tools for furthering their abilities and future explorations. By the time they graduate, students have had a wide range of artistic experiences.
