“Spin Me Silly” by Sophie Sterling ’26

An immersive experience welcomed viewers. Kinetic sculptures hung from the ceiling were interspersed with still life paintings, landscapes, graphic art, film, and three-dimensional works, encouraging viewers to look up, into, and around spaces both real and imagined. 

The display areas were designed to illuminate connections between art works and inspire reflection and dialogue. Visual Arts faculty experimented with new ways to tell the story of Maret’s visual arts program and spur engagement with individual student works, as well as group displays.

Surprises emerged around every turn. Photographs of animals taken by upper school students were paired with delightful paper cut-outs by kindergartners — each piece exploring the unique forms and characters of the animals and drawing connections within the curriculum. Prints of swimming koi fish by middle school students were rhymically placed across several boards to emphasize their dynamic movement and suggest a swirling pond. And novel installations, including “Spin Me Silly” by Sophie Sterling ’26, a meditation on identity and memory that invited exhibit-goers to not only view but also interact with the art.

Visual Arts faculty planned the exhibition with an eye to creating opportunities for connection, reflection, and dialogue.

Wall text, including curator and artist statements, gave viewers insight into the processes and thinking behind the projects and artwork. Some of the text was written by the students, some by faculty. Student docents — a new addition to the annual art show — were also on hand to spark conversation and provide personalized commentary.

The eighth grade ceramics installation — inspired by the Empty Bowls project and the Community Engagement curriculum — included beautifully-crafted, empty bowls that students made on the potter’s wheel, as well as a series of informational posters that they created to raise awareness about food insecurity in Washington, DC.

Explanatory text also helped viewers understand the depth of work behind the first graders’ exuberant mixed media collages of floral bouquets. The students learned tempera and watercolor painting techniques, patternmaking, and printmaking to create the various elements. To pull it all together, they had to plan carefully and apply what they had learned about foreground, middleground, and background to organize their compositions. 

“Unnatural Disaster” by Frankie Hardart ’26

While the exhibition showcased students’ skills and the development of technical mastery, it also highlighted opportunities in the curriculum for self discovery and self expression. Students employed traditional forms such as drawn and painted self portraits and also experimented in mixed media, new media, and a variety of creative formats.

For the “My Story Still Life” project, upper school students explored how personally meaningful objects — like a pair of sneakers, toy cars, a candle, a duck, and a collection of coins — can tell stories of hard work, resilience, connection to the past, and love of friends and family. 

Students also explored issues important to them. In “Colored,” Braxton Brown ’27 reimagined Emanuel Leutze’s “Washington Crossing the Delaware” with Black figures and leaders. In his artist statement, he said he wanted to show that "anyone can stand up to the occasion at any time." In “Unnatural Disaster,” Frankie Hardart ’26 reflected on the impacts humans have had on the earth, specifically the wildfires in California. Intentional choices of color, form, and composition revealed these artists’ strong points of view.

Alex Jay ’30 

The golden anniversary art show carried on Maret’s long-standing tradition of celebrating the work of student artists and the dedication of the school’s teaching artists.  It was a reflection of a dynamic and ever-evolving program that empowers students to experiment, reflect, and develop their voices from kindergarten to senior year.  It was also a testament to the power of art to inspire wonder, reflection, and connection.

Here’s to another 50 years!