"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." Albert Einstein
Phil Lohmeyer, Design
Sunrise at Shippan Point (2020), created entirely with discarded cardboard packaging. An 18"x24" poster of this piece was also part of the silent auction for this year's gala.
"I created each box individually with a King Size Sharpie, one at a time over the past 6 weeks. The project originally started as a way to create a cover for Drew Vanderwinckel's new jazz album called 'The Windows EP,' partially named as a result of these designs. I would listen to his music and draw a different square for each song, being sure to finish the square as the song ended. The group of four that he chose for the cover is not represented here, but I kept going after his selection to round out the group of 16 boxes. It was a fun challenge to make everything within a square, and try to do something different each time, while using a very large pen to create lines of all sizes!" -Phil Lohmeyer, May 2020
"Current themes are inspired by the beauty and complexity of nature, capturing the ever-shifting light of the seasons and sharing our complex and nuanced connection to landscape.
This series of oil paintings are a celebration of movement, growth, overcoming and of wellness. It is asking us to thrive, to evolve and to adapt in the same brilliant way our environment so beautifully does. By utilizing and manipulating traditional painting techniques I hope to highlight the lush and layered experience of seasonal growth. It is important to note that the work is created through observation, memory and experience so that it is sensual and emotive.
So often we look through a screen, scroll through a feed or communicate through text and this work stands in opposition. For me creating is reconnecting with my inner knowing, it is practicing the art of observation and it is feeling rather than seeing."
2020
"Revel in it + reveal it"
"I seek the moments of losing myself in the process of creating, that is when I tap into my source of knowing, my inner light, my unique voice. It took years of creating before I could let go of the expectations and judgements of what it "should look like". Letting go of expectation and being immersed in the process allows me to see beauty in my own unique voice.
My goals in teaching our students and creating are the same, learning to trust your inner voice and finding your passion to tirelessly pursue it. No matter the material, our ideas matter our experience matters and our expression of that matters." -Amy Bilden Budzelek
Alexis Ryan, Library + Makerspace
Pamela Chapman, Lower School Art
Nandita Sinha, Primary Teacher
Shelley Castro, Middle School Science
2021
2020
"I started to learn to watercolor because I needed an outlet to unwind in a creative way. I started off in acrylics, which I still enjoy, but switched to watercolor. I needed to have less control of the process to relax - to have surprises and learn to be more flexible. I have discovered, I have less control over what the paint does on the paper in watercolor. There are so many variables... type of paper, the type of watercolor paint, the brand of paint, and even humidity seems to matter. I don't always like what happens along the way, but I am usually very satisfied with the end result. I think that is a good lesson in life.
Sometimes, I take a painting subscription box to help me learn new techniques and to help when I have a mind block - a blank piece of paper can be intimidating. Whenever I work on a lesson, I often discover a new technique or "happy accident" and it will inspire me to paint something original. Most of the time, I paint with the intention of something I want to give someone. This is tricky, because I have in my mind what I want, but have to figure out how to get there." -Shelley Castro 2020
Luis Rivera, "Pandemic Beauty"
"Recently, COVID-19 has changed many of our perceptions and interactions - from a simple handshake or hug, social distancing has made us question our every move. This statue located in downtown Stamford overall displays the innocence of a child, while the mask placed on it by someone else reflects our current global situation. I decided to snap a photo since as a teacher I reflect daily on what this experience may be like for children."-Luis Rivera