Marple Newtown Senior Artists Deck the Halls

NEWTOWN SQUARE– senior artists gave one last exhibit on Wednesday, May 20, of the their work before leaving the school . This very elaborate tradition gives dedicated art students their own wall space for one night.

The seniors chose a theme and creatively developed the space to incorporate art from their past four years at the school. Students were allowed to pick which pieces will represent them as they head off to college.

Some of the teachers also included several sophomore and junior students' work in the exhibition. Art teacher Michael Winterbottom felt the inclusion of other grades would give the those students an incentive to continue to study art.

Photo and digital art teacher Penny Gardner explained that students must have taken a studio art and AP art class, or if they have taken two to three classes throughout their senior year then they are given the opportunity to earn a senior wall. Gardner described the showcase as a "privilege."

The walls were decked with a collection of various styles and mediums. The bigger variety of styles indicated the influences of many art teachers and classes. The art curriculum at Marple Newtown is focused around what the students want to create. If a student wants to focus on traditional styles like oils or pastels, there are classes and if a student wants to work with digital mediums, they can do that too, according to Gardner.

Winterbottom allowed the students the freedom to create what works best for them, but reminded them the extensive work that is involved with art school. According to Winterbottom, Marple Newtown averages about 10 students per year who follow high school with art school.

High school senior Chelsea Banes focuses on digital arts, which is a fairly new curriculum at the high school. Her wall or portfolio's theme developed the idea of opposites. One picture showed a flower laying on a reflective surface, but the mirrored image was of a dying flower.

Another intricate piece from Banes was a three-dimensional series of slots. Looking at it in one direction, there was a vibrantly colored image visible but if you looked at it in the opposite direction the same image was black and white. Banes will be studying photography at the University of the Arts this fall.

Senior Christina Rose Groff's theme was "Make a Wish," in which her wall incorporated giant dandelion seeds blowing in the wind. Groff said she felt the theme represented her transition from high school to college. Though she loves oil pastels, Groff has also studied print-making at Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia.

Groff has been taking classes there for years and now helps teach. She will be attending University of Pittsburgh in the fall. While currently undecided on her major, she does know that art will probably be part of her studies. Groff feels art is "something I could do for the rest of my life."

For senior Catherine Everett, she applied to a number of art schools and decided upon Arcadia University so she can study abroad her freshmen year. Her eyes are set on going to England. Everett, who does a lot of pottery, said she feels it is a great stress reliever. She works in many different mediums allowing the art to evolve on its own.

"If I have a certain idea that I want to do, I usually paint; if I want to do something functional I do ceramic. It kind of varies. I really like exploring rather than just dedicating to one medium," explained Everett. 

The halls of Marple Newtown were covered with elaborate designs, graphics and even cardboard furniture. Several elements were from of engineering teacher Jessica Buechele's class. Though she's fairy new to the high school,  she has already brought a new dynamic to the program. She instructed her students to create cardboard furniture that could support an adult. At first they were a little skeptical, she said, but the final products were very stylish.

While the art students get excited about caps, gowns and where they will be hanging their paintbrushes in the fall, the art teachers showed their pride of the talent they have been working with for the past four year, showcasing the artwork around the school.