Photo courtesy of Ellen Erikson
Creative, thoughtful, and versatile are all ways people describe Darcy Mackenzie ’27 as an artist, friend, and student. Across EA’s arts, Mackenzie has been an active member, proving herself to be an artist with an inspiring work ethic and dedication to her craft.
Mackenzie’s artistic journey started in her sophomore year when she took Foundations of Art, the prerequisite class for more specialized courses. In this class, students spend one semester taking abridged versions of each studio art discipline to get a feel for what subjects they enjoy. For Mackenzie, her passion for art was undeniable, though her time in EA art studios did not begin as she expected. Mackenzie describes how after completing foundations, she did not get the class she had hoped for. “I went into [ junior year ] really wanting to do 2D because on my own I have been huge on 2D,” Mackenzie explains. “But then junior year I couldn’t get into a 2D course so I did 3D, and I really love it now.” This situation might have been a blessing in disguise for Mackenzie, shown as she discusses why 3D is now one of her favorite classes: “Last year in 3D we did so many cool things. I remember we used this ancient form of bronze casting and we made terracotta bar reliefs. We cast them in silicone and then did wax molds, and we sent them to a museum to get cast in bronze. It was really cool just to see that whole process because it has been around for a really long time.”
Hillary Hutchison, Upper School art teacher and instructor to the 3D design course, has taught Mackenzie since her days in Foundations of Art. She explains how Mackenzie is a dynamic artist, different from other students she has known. “A lot of her creativity and her ideas emerge independently, so she thinks outside of the box constantly and surprises me with things that she is thinking about outside of class.” Hutchinson mentioned, “She made this six-foot-long cardboard chainsaw that she submitted for Dora Kyatt a couple of years ago, which was incredible.” Hutchison also refers to Mackenzie as a person who is open to feedback, an important characteristic in the field. “She is super direct, and I love the conversations we have when we’re discussing the progress or things that she might be frustrated about with her work. I think those are very good skills for developing the voice of an artist”.
Charlie Casey ’27, a good friend of Mackenzie’s, conveys his admiration for her craft and the personality she possesses, sharing, “She really has this ineffable quality to her. She is also cheerful and is always positive in her interaction with others. She gives everything she has to all of her conversations, and I would say the same is definitely true in her art.” In addition, Mackenzie’s friend Diya Methi ’27 also shares her favorite things about Mackenzie, adding that her work ethic is the most inspiring thing about her. She also says: “She thinks about her work a lot in the real world” when talking about what makes her different from other art students. Mackenzie’s ability to look at how her pieces interact with the world is something unique about her work.
Photo courtesy of Mark Tassoni
Mackenzie hopes to continue creating art during her college years, taking her passion for the craft well beyond the mark she has made at EA. She has shown amazing potential as an artist over the past three years, and it is clear she will continue to amaze people with her work in the future.