On Nov. 21, the Campbell Hall art gallery presented the Faculty Visual Arts Exhibition, showcasing the work of those who teach and inspire our creative community. The exhibition, curated by Ms. Cameron, alongside the Junior Curators Club and featured teachers, offered works created by Campbell Hall’s faculty, reflecting their personal artistic practices beyond the classroom. Having closed on Dec. 18, the exhibition offered the unique opportunity to see faculty members not just as teachers, but as practicing artists who shape the visual arts department.
One of the exhibition’s featured artists, high school photography teacher and alumna Katie Kline ‘01, values highlighting the creative work that informs her teaching and speaks to who she is as an artist. Kline feels that in her process, the most meaningful part is the time in between: the concept of experimenting and playing with her art, simply because she has the opportunity to do so. She hopes to impart this lesson to her students as they recognize her personal passion reflected in her displayed works.
“I think [showcasing our art is] a way to bring the community together to shine a light on what happens behind the scenes and what fuels our teaching practice,” Kline said. “As teachers, it’s important to remember why we make this work in the first place, and I think it’s important that students see that we love doing what we ask of them. We practice what we preach.”
Similarly, high school painting teacher Elizabeth Tremante, whose work is also showcased in the exhibition, highlights how faculty art work reflects teachers’ identities and values as artists, allowing students to see how personal creative practices shape instruction and artistic voices. For her, modeling her teaching on her own creative habits helps students to better understand the process of their own thinking and learning. Tremante believes it’s beneficial for her students to see what she does outside of the classroom to help bridge the gap between curriculum and genuine artistic practice.
“It was really interesting when I was down there with my classes,” Tremante said. “The students were so surprised to see what their elementary teachers made and some of them would look at another teacher’s work and feel like it completely reflected who they were as an art teacher or the way they taught their classes. I think we all try to use our own artistic practices as a basis for how we teach, so it’s special for the students to see that on display as well.”
Beyond the faculty perspective, the teacher art show also left a strong impression on students who attended. One of these students, Annie Gordon ‘27, believes that seeing her teachers’ work on display reshaped how she understands the people guiding her in the classroom and revealed creative talents that often go unnoticed. For Gordon, acknowledging her teachers as people deepened her appreciation for both their artistic skill and the passion they bring to their teaching, allowing her to feel connected to them on a uniquely intimate and meaningful level.
“When we think about the people who teach us, we don’t really conceptualize how skilled they are, so being able to actively see their strengths was beautiful,” Gordon said. “For example, Ms. Dorsey showcased wildly intricate and impressive quilts but if it weren’t for the art show, I would have never known that was a talent of hers. So I think even beyond just the art teachers, to see the Campbell Hall staff as a whole express themselves beyond the classroom was really unique.”
