George School Visual Arts is thrilled to host a Community Art Exhibition in Walton Lobby Gallery open now until February 17, 2025. There will be an opening reception to celebrate the artists and their creations with light refreshments on Thursday, January 23 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend!
This Community Art Exhibition serves as a platform for creative expression and collaboration within our school community. Artists of all ages and skill levels across faculty and staff were invited to participate to showcase their talent. The artistic medium varies across submissions, but artists could submit works including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, digital art, collage, and mixed media.
Theme: Inspiration Everywhere
Inspiration can be found in every corner of our lives. Whether it's in nature, everyday objects, personal experiences, or emotions, there is beauty waiting to be discovered. The Community Arts Exhibition encouraged artists to explore this theme and share their unique interpretations through their artwork.
"Whether it emerges from the natural world, everyday objects, personal experiences, or the depth of our emotions, beauty is present in every corner of our existence," said Ceramics Teacher and Gallery Coordinator Amedeo Salamoni. "Inspiration Everywhere invites artists to explore this theme, offering a space to reflect, create, and share their personal interpretations of the beauty that surrounds us."
"Inspiration is all around us — woven into the fabric of our daily lives, waiting to be discovered in the simplest of moments."
Beth Castigliano
Sunflowers
Oil Painting
"My work is autobiographical," said Beth. "Through painting, drawing, and collage, I explore what matters most to me personally, notably: memory; motherhood; and mental illness."
In 2016, Beth rented a larger studio space in a converted warehouse and began creating a body of oil paintings on canvases that ranged from two to eight feet tall. "These works employed images of sunflowers in various states of growth and decay as a metaphor for mental illness." Beth has created several bodies of work over the last twenty-five years. "They appear quite different from each other in style and subject matter, yet they circle around these three themes that have engaged my attention for decades." Most of Beth's paintings have been sold and are in private collections across the United States. Learn more about Beth's artwork.
Bob Fest
Woven in Light and Land: A Photographic Journey Through East Africa
Photography
This exhibition invites you on a visual journey through the breathtaking landscapes and wildlife of East Africa. "Captured during my time leading academic and service programs for students and teachers across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, these photographs are a testament to the region's awe-inspiring beauty and the vulnerability of its wildlife," said Science teacher Bob.
"Each image reflects the profound connection fostered by active participation in international programs like those offered at George School."
Ginny Waller
Black and White
Photography
"When I was growing, up my father constantly took photographs — always in black and white," said Ginny. "He had this hand-held light meter, and an old box-shaped camera which fascinated me. For years I had a 35mm camera and shot in black and white. I gave it up when life began to crowd out time for self-expression."
"I am drawn to black and white imagery; light, shadows, reflection, solitude, glimpses of a human moment captured. Now, because my phone is always with me, it's rekindled my interest in photography."
Michael Maestas
Acrylic Paintings
"These three paintings were created over a three-week period, reflecting my emotions and mood in response to the recent news of my brother’s passing," shared Michael. "The color choices are deeply personal and intended to convey my feelings during this time."
"I prefer not to explain my art, as I believe it is meant to be interpreted by the viewer rather than being dictated by the artist. The exception to this is when it comes to portraits or specific scenes. I hope you find meaning and enjoyment in these works."
Pacho Gutiérrez '77
Photography
As is the case with many artists, Pacho looks for inspiration in nature. The uniting theme in his works are birds. "Birds are transient, temperamental, elusive, but most of all, a fascination to me," said Pacho. "Who hasn't been mesmerized by their power of flight and by their radiant colors? They represent the ultimate freedom of movement and expression. Who doesn’t want to fly like an eagle or perch majestically like a hawk?"
"Capturing such beauty and design is difficult and elusive," he continued. "I relish the serendipitous aspect of photography, the hidden detail that come out in the editing process and how much our visual systems prevents us from really seeing details consciously. Painting, on the other hand, is methodical, calculating, and full of "forks in the road" in terms of composition and juxtaposition. It is a treasured gift that takes time and patience to develop. Photography is Helter-Skelter and dynamic; painting is meticulous and measured. Both bring out my inner artistry in different, yet connected, ways."
Stephanie Perrais
Watercolor Painting
Stephanie's work consists of an eclectic body of work inspired by the natural world, trees and birds. "I play with a variety of media: photographs, drawings, paintings, sumi-e ink drawings, linocuts, cyanotypes prints, chlorophyll prints, etc. I use a wide range of paints, but watercolor is one I often favor, as it lends itself especially well for travels and plein air explorations," said Stephanie. "I often mix ballpoint, watercolor, inks, gouache, to interpret the spectacularity of something as common as a tree." Almost all the birds Stephanie paints are birds she has seen or photographed in the field.
Stephanie's subjects vary according to the cycle of seasons, as she portrays the lives she observes, the routines, the migrations, mating, nesting, successes and failures. "My art grounds me and the viewer in an ancient rhythm displaced by modern society. I let nature be the guide. My art creations explore themes of beauty and simplicity, roots and growth, transience and permanence, and resilience." Learn more about Stephanie's artwork.
Through this Community Art Exhibition, we celebrate the limitless potential for creativity and expression within our school community.
"At George School, we believe that every individual has a unique artistic voice, and this exhibition aims to highlight the diversity of talent, perspective, and imagination within our school," shared Amedeo. "Art has the power to inspire, connect, and unite us all."