Walking through the hallways of Wilson Hall, one will see various drawings, sculptures and paintings along the walls.
But, since many are always in a rush to get to class or move on to the next thing, do members of the Haverford community properly acknowledge the work that goes into this art? Is the Visual Arts Department getting enough appreciation?
Haverford offers courses in 3D Art, Ceramics, Digital Art, and Woodworking, among others, yet many of the art students and faculty feel that more could be done to draw attention to the various creations from this department. The school’s website even says, “the many gallery spaces and art studios regularly host student shows and professional artist exhibits, who show their work and conduct workshops with classes.”
For one, many students don’t know what actually happens in art classes.
Art Department Chair Mr. Christopher Fox said, “I think the school’s intentions are very good. The school itself supports the arts probably better than any other school supports their arts program, and visual arts is no exception. But do people really understand what we’re doing? I don’t always think so, because it’s not just painting pictures.”
Currently Haverford’s main art displays are in Centennial Hall’s gallery and upper school hallways, but many feel something else should be added to give the art more exposure.
“I would like to see a bigger, more robust gallery at Haverford,” Ceramics teacher Mr. Jacob Raeder said. “Centennial Hall’s gallery space, while it is often good for 2D work, really is not able to show 3D work in a more sustained and ambitious way. I think that without having a dedicated gallery space with lighting and white walls and access to electrical things and being able to mount work on the walls, Haverford’s art will always be kind of second tier.”
Many students share this sentiment, and some have ideas for specific solutions.
Sixth Former Tripp Ronon, who is heavily involved with the visual arts department, proposes using one of Haverford’s most populated student spaces to get the job done.
“The Community Room has recently been utilized as an art gallery space through the Parents’ Gala, and I think it should stay that full time. I think we should get a big gallery wall and have cool exhibitions there,” Ronon said.
With events like the Gala recently displaying lots of art, it seems students are beginning to notice an improvement in the visibility of school artists.
Sixth Form art student Tate Conklin said, “I think that in the past there has definitely been a lot of underrepresentation for artists, but the school is taking steps to display more student art. I feel like we should continue to have events where parents, teachers, and students can all observe student art.”
Although creating an official art gallery is an ambition shared by members across the department, that is not the main focus of their work.
“As artists, we know that we don’t need to be seen. We don’t get our value from the audience and its reaction, we get our value from creating and the creative process. I think it would just be a great bonus to have people recognize that,” Ronon said. “Art is beyond decoration on walls. It should be elevated to having its own space.”
