A circle of warm and familiar faces greets George School students this month as they enter Walton Center on their way to assemblies and performing arts classes. The faces appear in portraits of twenty-eight George School community members comprising “A Show of Friends,” an exhibition of artwork by painting and drawing teacher Pam Grumbach.

Organized in honor of Pam’s upcoming retirement from George School at the end of this school year, the exhibit will be on view in Walton Center Gallery until Friday, October 8, 2010. A reception will take place at the gallery on Sunday, September 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; and Sunday, noon–4:00 p.m.

“Since I have been a member of the George School community for over thirty years, I decided to do a series of portraits of those still on campus who also shared my early years here,” said Pam, who serves as head of the school’s Arts Department in addition to teaching. “I then broadened my scope to include more of the adult members of the community.”

The portrait subjects include George School faculty and staff from various departments, along with two recent graduates who were advisees of Pam’s. Many of the individuals—such as Science Department Head Polly Lodge and food service staff member Katie Lumpkin—wear warm, welcoming expressions on their faces. Others are more pensive—history teacher Fran Bradley appears to be reading papers, while English teacher and coach John Gleeson seems to be watching his team on an athletics field. Some individuals hold objects that are relevant to their work—Terry Tuttle, college guidance assistant, has a large college guide book in her arms, while ceramics teacher Judy Bartella holds forth some of her signature creations, ceramic “critters.”

“While working, I was often drawn into musings about the individual,” said Pam. “I thought about the gifts of each person that I painted, and of the impact they have had on me and on this community.”

Head of School Nancy Starmer said, “The exhibit is a fitting tribute to Pam’s invaluable presence at George School for more than three decades. Her portraits capture the warm and interconnected nature of the George School community. The portraits also illustrate Pam’s generosity of spirit—though the exhibit was planned to honor her, Pam took it as an opportunity to honor her colleagues.”

Pam took photographs of many colleagues in the spring of this year, and rendered portraits from the photographs during the summer. The result was twenty-three completed portraits done in oil on canvas, charcoal on toned paper, watercolor, pastel on paper, oil grisaille, and oil on paper. An additional fifteen unfinished portrait sketches in charcoal, watercolor, and graphite are also on display as an instructional tool so that students can gain insight into Pam’s creative process.

For Pam, whose artwork has usually focused on landscapes, “A Show of Friends” marks a new direction. “I chose to do a body of work that would force me to attempt something new and to test my artistic flexibility,” said Pam. Rising to this challenge has benefited her, Pam reported. “I feel that I am on the brink of a new freedom and direction in my work,” she said. At the same time, Pam wishes that time constraints had not limited the number of coworkers she could depict. “There are still many colleagues that I want to capture on canvas,” she said.

“A Show of Friends” is one of eight exhibitions organized by the George School Arts Department during the 2010-11 year. The Arts Department offers twenty-eight arts courses in ten different visual and performing arts forms, with Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate course options.

“A Show of Friends” includes portraits of the following George School community members:

Judy Bartella, ceramics teacher and assembly coordinator
Fran Bradley, history teacher
Vince Campellone, grounds maintenance supervisor and coach
Terry Culleton, English teacher
Jorge Cruz, building maintenance staff member
Mary Dart, mathematics teacher
John Davison, history teacher
John Gleeson, English teacher and coach
Karen Hallowell, director of alumni relations and instrumental music teacher
Donna Hordis, 2010 George School graduate
Scott Hoskins, stagecraft and video production teacher
Susi Hoskins, 1971 George School graduate and parent, ’04, ’12
Laura Kinnel, registrar and mathematics teacher
Dave Kosan, grounds maintenance staff member and coach
Ralph Lelii, English and Theory of Knowledge teacher, IB coordinator
Ann Lemmo, 2010 George School graduate
Polly Lodge, Science Department head
Katie Lumpkin, food service staff member
Carolyn Lyday, religion teacher and part-time assistant dean of students
Pam Machemer, assistant director of college guidance and mathematics teacher
Paul Machemer, mathematics teacher and coach
Danielle Picard-Sheehan, photography teacher and Anderson Gallery coordinator
Pippa Rex, associate dean for community life and student leadership
Chip Poston, religion and Theory of Knowledge teacher, coach
Carter Sio, 1976 George School graduate, woodworking and design teacher, coach
Norm Tjossem, history teacher and dorm head
Terry Tuttle, college guidance assistant
Mark Wiley, science teacher

About George School
Founded in 1893 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), George School, a rigorous coed boarding and day school for grades nine through twelve, educates students from twenty-one states, thirty-seven foreign countries, and a variety of ethnic, racial, religious, and economic backgrounds. Through its commitment to diversity and the Quaker values of equality, integrity, and peacemaking, George School inspires students to be led by their own truths while respecting and appreciating opinions and beliefs different from their own. George School was one of the first schools in the United States to implement an International Baccalaureate diploma program. For information about admission, please call 215.579.6547 or visit http://www.georgeschool.org.