On Tuesday, Dr. Gravel's AP Art History class went for a tour of the Hudson River School paintings at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. Ms. Piccoli engaged the students in discussions about the landscape paintings using Visual Thinking Strategies which encourages participants to observe, think and feel emotions when looking at art. The students just took their AP exam last week and studied the Hudson River School earlier in the year. They really impressed Ms. Piccoli with their observations, thoughts and use of relevant vocabulary terms like "sublime" to describe the paintings and "divine illumination" when explaining the symbolism the artists incorporated in their use of light. The group had the opportunity to look closely at paintings by Thomas Cole, Albert Bierstadt and William Bradford. Maeve Roylance stated, "It was very interesting to learn about all the different aspects of the paintings, but to then see how they all came together was really incredible."
The Art Department would like to congratulate several WUHS artists for having their work represented at the AVA Gallery in the upcoming 16th Annual High School Exhibition, with works of art created by regional high school students nominated for participation by their art teachers. The exhibition will be featured in the AVA’s galleries from January 19 - February 10, 2024.
A festive award celebration will occur during the opening reception on Friday, January 19, 5-7PM, awards presentation at 6 PM.
For sixteen years now, AVA has been contacting regional Vermont and New Hampshire public, private, and vocational high schools, encouraging the art faculty to nominate works by students who show exceptional promise in various creative disciplines. The show and the ceremony are open to the public—the artwork is always INSPIRING and AWESOME!
The students whose artwork represents our school include: Delia Morgan, Kamron Yuengling, Skye Cully, Lindsay Bacon, Joe Tsouknakis, Charlotte Nunan, Kuba Marzec, Allie Tarleton, Rue Stahl, and Kiara Nestler.
On Tuesday, three art classes visited the Hall Art Foundation in Reading, Vermont to see the exhibits Andy Warhol: small is beautiful and Susan Rothenberg: In New Mexico. Ms. Gravel’s AP Art History class, Ms. Jimerson’s AP Art class and Ms. Piana’s Drawing class toured the exhibits, saw the outdoor sculpture installations and participated in Visual Thinking Strategies with Ms. Piccoli when looking at Warhol’s Flowers.
Charlotte Nunan, a senior in AP Art and a gallery attendant at the Hall Art Foundation gave a special presentation on Warhol’s The American Man (Portrait of Watson Powell), 1964. During her presentation, she explained the commission, the silkscreen painting process and how the paintings are hung in a grid.
On working at the Hall Art Foundation, Charlotte said, “I’ve really enjoyed working at the Hall Art Foundation these last three years. I think it’s a great opportunity to be close to art and get a feel for the contemporary and business side of the art world. I always love seeing the new exhibits that come in each year, exposing me to new artists and artistic styles! As I’ve worked at the Hall Art Foundation, I’ve met lots of interesting people and connected with them about the art around us.”
A hidden world, a sunken ship, an abandoned picnic, an immersive web and an abstract expression of moving water… These are just some of the ideas expressed at the Land Trust trail by 16 talented Eco-Art students.
The pieces created are a part of SculptureFest and the community and artists enjoyed an art reception on Sunday. This environmental exhibit is always open to the public, stop by anytime on the trail located between Prosper Rd and the King Farm to enjoy their installations.
An excerpt from Aleks Cirovic’s artist statement about her art piece Stability:
“I wished for this piece to represent a part of myself, a part that I have lost. One that has balance, respect, and curiosity surrounding the past. The surrounding space represents what surrounds me.”
The EcoArt students invite the public to SculptureFest located on Prosper Road on October 22 from 1:00-2:30 to view their newly created sculptures.
The students have collaborated with Peter and Charlet Davenport over the past three weeks. They met local artists, explored the sculptures on the Davenport’s land and learned about how gesture, light & shadow, texture, negative space and place influence sculpture. The students then spent time along the farm trail that connects the Davenport’s land with the King Farm.
They designed and created art surrounding and within unique features of the landscape. The purpose of their sculptures is to bring attention to aspects of the land that might otherwise be overlooked. The students considered how environmental public art is an act of stewardship and how using found and ephemeral materials connects to sustainability.
We hope you enjoy exploring the wonderful art pieces created by these talented artists.
On Friday, September 29th the Art Department took a field trip to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA to see the exhibit “Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth”.
Ms. Gravel’s AP Art History, Ms. Jimerson’s AP Art and Ms. Piana’s Advanced Art classes went on this trip to see an exhibit of Munch’s landscape and nature inspired paintings. Prior to the trip, Ms. Piccoli gave presentations on Edvard Munch, his work and the exhibit to prepare students for their docent-led tours while at the museum.
A real highlight of the visit was seeing students make connections between what they learned in class and what they were observing in person. Of the experience, Joey Sluka said, “The trip was awesome because students don’t actually get the opportunity to apply their learning in museums. It was amazing to see Munch’s lesser known work. It was super helpful to expand my knowledge of Munch, his art and his techniques.”
One of Munch’s paintings that made an impression on Sadie Boulbol was The Yellow Log, 1912. It shows felled trees highlighted in yellow in a Norwegian forest. Sadie explained that it “represents what’s happening today environmentally.” And she said, “Munch was ahead of his time.”
After the tour, students had free time to explore the permanent collection. Ms. Gravel’s AP Art History class visited “Printed Renaissance” for a special presentation by Sophia Nisimblat ‘24, Teaching Assistant, on an Italian Renaissance woodcut on paper by Niccolo Vicentino which she compared to a German Renaissance engraving by Albrecht Durer. Then, AP Art History students visited the Manton Collection of British Art to see a wonderful collection of Turner and Constable paintings.
Thanks so much to the Clark Art Institute for their free educational programming. “Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth” is at the Clark until October, 15. This is the only US venue before it travels to Germany and then back to Norway.
Students in Ms. Jimerson’s Middle School Studio Art class made “garden focaccias”. Using dough prepared from a King Arthur Flour recipe: students shaped their dough, brushed it with olive oil, and carefully created their “gardens” atop the dough using sliced vegetables, herbs, seeds, olives and capers.
Their creations were baked by Ms. Jimerson and WUHS senior Charlotte Nunan, Ms. Jimerson’s TA for this class. When the students sampled their creations, they all concluded that they were not only pretty but really yummy!
This was a fitting conclusion to their recent study of botanical illustrations, which included a multi-day visit from Susan Sawyer, a renowned botanical illustrator.
Yoh Theatre Players will present Argonautika by Mary Zimmerman on October 20 and 21 at 7 p.m.
We are proud to present our first Vlog episode documenting our work, created with the help of our new Assistant Director Claire McKey Berkman.
The cast of the 2023 spring musical, Percy Jackson.
Yoh Theatre will begin its 2023-2024 season with an Opening Meeting, Potluck and Preview Performance on Sunday, August 27, with pre-season rehearsals beginning on Monday, August 28. This preview performance is open to the public and starts at 6:00 p.m. Come see a select group of Yoh Theater Players perform a preview of scenes and songs from our upcoming season.
For students interested in learning about Yoh Theatre, we will have an Opening Meeting and Potluck prior to the start of the preview from 4:00-6:00 p.m. We will have a slide show, information about our program, and about an upcoming performance trip to Edinburgh, Scotland! Bring finger foods and we will eat together before the preview at 6:00pm.
If you attend the opening meeting and potluck, you will receive a complimentary ticket for the preview performance. Sign up for the meeting, potluck and show on our website.
First show and pre-season: Rehearsals for our first show of the year will begin on Monday, August 28, with pre-season rehearsals before school begins. To sign up for our first show, visit our website.
Yoh Theatre is open to everyone, grades 7-12.