Unleashing imagination
Visual arts at Chadwick International is not just about making pretty things. It’s about whole student education, harnessing untapped creative potential and empowering students to nurture their inner artist. With access to 2D and 3D media technology, ceramic kilns and a fully equipped TV/film studio, students learn to communicate ideas in different mediums from a very young age. That exposure fosters confidence, enriches the overall educational experience and prepares students for life in a multimedia-driven world.
Students are challenged to think outside the box and focus on the creative process versus the final product. Every lesson is experiential. Students learn by doing and are encouraged to take bold risks. The practice of critiquing their own work and that of their peers in a safe and supportive space strengthens self-awareness and social skills. It’s a place where they discover the power of art as an outlet for self-expression.
Students are also assigned different jobs that help maintain the integrity of the workspace, build responsibility and encourage leadership. Each is given the autonomy to choose the medium they’ll use to create, and therefore, every project reflects a deeply personal artistic vision. At the same time, they discover that art can be a catalyst for connection. It feeds their growth as global citizens and becomes another language they can speak out in the world.
Gigi Maiquez Village School Arts Lead
The arts teach us to celebrate multiple perspectives and diversity. Each artist brings their own uniqueness.
Art in the Village School
Chadwick's art programs stem from the belief that art is experiential. Village School students explore their ideas and share their voice through their artistic choices. They learn to make observations, indulge their imagination and respond to stimuli through an array of artistic techniques and mediums like drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, printmaking, digital art and mixed media. These mediums act as a playground to explore different elements of art and principles of design. Visual arts encourage students to delve into different concepts and find connections with other disciplines and within their own lives. For example, students learn the concept of symmetry in math and then make connections in art while creating self-portraits.
Chadwick’s youngest minds experiment, express themselves and establish an appreciation for the arts through firsthand experience. As students reflect and refine their creations, they learn the process of art-making as well as the inherent value of sharing their ideas. Confidence, independent thinking and a wider world view filter into every aspect of their learning and personal growth.
Art in the Middle School
Middle School students continue their artistic journey with courses in both traditional and contemporary media. They go from being creative explorers to astute problem-solvers who can bring an idea from concept to inception. Each student’s artistic abilities are nurtured as they discover how design and innovative thinking can impact daily life and society as a whole.
Chadwick students learn that being an artist is not a gift, but something innate that can be nurtured.
Art in the Upper School
Visual arts in the Upper School builds on the skills learned in previous years. As students take on more challenging artistic endeavors, they develop their sense of independence, focus, innovation and critical thinking. Life lessons are learned as they practice thoughtfully evaluating and appreciating the perspectives of their peers.
Emphasis is on creating a holistic fine art experience that has students investigate, develop and communicate ideas in both visual and written form. They learn to research relevant works, build technical skills, document and curate art. They choose their material and how to use it (e.g., still life drawing using pressure-sensitive media like charcoal, pencil, etc.). For their final exhibition project, students write an artist statement of intent before curating, producing and displaying their work. Reflection and documentation helps students become constructively critical of their art and the artistic process.
Visual Arts
