Student artwork helped to set the tone for this year’s Margaret Kinkaid holiday showcase, creating a colorful backdrop to the event, said Gallery and Studio Coordinator Ms. Lauren Quiroga.
The showcase highlights all Visual and Performing Arts students, emphasizing the exhibit as a highlight of the program.
Parents frequently expressed awe at the talent on display. Comments like “You made this” and “This is eighth grade” were heard throughout the night. Some even inquired about purchasing or commissioning future work. The variety and quality of the pieces impressed guests, from intricate sculptures to innovative mixed media and photography. Meanwhile, students displayed pride by excitedly pointing out their pieces to family and friends throughout the evening.
Quiroga pointed out the strong role of honors students, who differed by curating and installing their own exhibitions and presenting their work to attendees. Their confident presentations of their processes and final projects reflected months of preparation and were one of the top achievements of the night.
“Speaking about your own work isn’t always easy,” Quiroga explained, “But watching them confidently share their process and final pieces feels like the perfect culmination of their semester-long effort.”
The exhibition included at least one piece from every student in the visual arts class, highlighting a wide range of mediums that included ceramics, graphic design, photography, sculpture, painting, drawing, and mixed media.
Creative Writing students also created zines of their poetry for guests to take home and enjoy. Mixed media students were also responsible for designing their own displays for their installations, giving them practical experience in presentation and curation.
A standout project, a deconstruction assignment in Intro to Art, taught by Upper School visual arts teacher Ms. Megan McEntire, challenged students to create within a uniform square format.
“Every assignment helps students grow,” Quiroga noted, “But this one really pushed them to innovate.”
Due to the construction of the new Upper School, artwork was presented on the second floor of the Student Life building instead of in its traditional gallery.
Quiroga believes the experience of exhibiting publicly will influence students long after the event.
“Seeing their work appreciated by a wider audience gives them confidence and motivation to keep growing as artists,” she said.
