Theodore Vadot ‘19
With spring just around the corner, the Episcopal Academy community is just a month away from the annual, school wide celebration of the arts: Artsfest. Showcasing arts in all its forms, it will take place on April 26th, a half-day on which Episcopal students will not have any classes. Furthermore, the school will be taking advantage of the spring weather and enjoying a barbecue lunch organized by Sage Dining.
As many of Episcopal’s artists know, their art, whether it be visual, musical, performing or of any type, is often confined to the walls of their studios or practice rooms. The rare occasions to share their talents with the rest of the community only occur when they might be showcased in the gallery, or for the seasonal concerts and theatrical performances. David Sigel, 2-D Design Teacher and Head of the Arts Department at Episcopal, says: “Artsfest is the perfect opportunity for students and teachers to show the hardwork and talent that transpires in our studios and classrooms throughout the year.” He adds, “I always use the word ‘celebrate,’ and that’s exactly what it is; we are celebrating our school’s artists.”
Artsfest also has the goal of emphasizing the diversity of Episcopal’s arts. Whereas visual art is usually the most featured in the halls of the school or in the gallery, this art-focused day widens the field to also shine a spotlight on other arts such as writing, music, and theater. Sigel explains, “We have a lot of time and space over that half of the day, so it is easy to run many stations, allowing the students to go from one to another.”
One of the highlights of Artsfest is the chance to see a preview of the Upper School’s spring musical. Additionally, for the first time this year, the Lower School will be putting on a performance for everybody to enjoy. As for the spring musical preview, the Les Misérables cast has been working hard preparing for the final performance. Alex Oliva ‘19, who has a role in the musical, comments: “It is a very complex musical, and I think it’s going to turn out extremely well. Most people know it as being a sad performance, but I see it as very poetic and, musically, beautiful.”
Another special installation this year will be the “Singing Stones” exhibition. This has been planned thoroughly by a team of students and teachers, led by Susan Coote, Episcopal’s Gallery Curator. This exhibit will be an interactive environment that will be a unique way for the student body’s talents to be on display. Sigel remarks, “Once again, this is a celebration of our students’ talents. We want anyone to be able to show their art.”
There are also plans for a larger installation to be built by a group of seniors, as an opportunity to show the hard work they have dedicated for four years in their studios. Hilary Hutchison, 3-D Design Teacher, emphasizes Sigel’s point: “It’s unbelievable the amount of work the artists put into their work in the studios; hours on hours, and they don’t really get the attention they deserve. This is a good way to showcase this amazing talent.”
There are many more events being organized for Artsfest. These include a poetry showcase, the short film contest entries, musical performances, and more. Additionally, the winners for visual arts will be announced for the Dora Khayatt Competition.
More than anything, Artsfest is an opportunity for anyone to step up and showcase their art. Hutchison maintains, “I encourage everyone to present some form of art for this type of event. This is an opportunity unlike any other for members of the student body to share their art talents.”