Lakeside School

I first sat down to write this article at 9 a.m. on Sept. 25, when the coolness of fall was finally in the air. I sat writing while hip-hop chosen by Ava J. ’26 played in the background. My Intermediate Ceramics & Sculpture class was working on a group project I introduced just that morning — a challenge to create hundreds of hollow spheres, which would later come together as abstract sculptures for an outdoor exhibition in the newly redesigned courtyard of the Pigott Family Arts Center.

The energy in the studio was calm yet focused. It’s the kind of atmosphere that makes me love this time of year — when students are just beginning to grasp the fundamentals, and I get to witness the tangible growth that happens when working with students over the course of multiple years. What stands out most, though, is the genuine joy I saw on their faces as they found a state of flow during the process. It’s a joy that Dr. Kai Bynum spoke about during opening meetings — the kind that comes from learning for its own sake. It’s something I see every day in the art building. 

Here in the Visual Arts department, we’re committed to creating immersive, hands-on experiences, building on the foundation we set last year. For those of you who were at Arts Fest last spring, I hope you got a glimpse of just how special the arts are here at Lakeside.

After finishing teaching my class, I decided to take a walk through the building to see what other students were up to. As I made my way up the stairs to the gallery, I was immediately struck by the sight of students having fun with a new group project — blue tape stretched across the walls in a geometric maze of linear perspective drawings. Teacher Kyle Cook reflects on the project: “In Intermediate Drawing and Painting, students kicked off the year with a large-scale group project, creating linear perspective drawings using blue tape in the gallery. This innovative approach allowed students to explore perspective in a more spontaneous and flexible way, as they could easily adjust lines and angles by simply peeling up the tape. Working collaboratively, students of varying skill levels learned to troubleshoot and refine their understanding of perspective together. This exercise not only helped prepare them for their first major project — linear perspective collages — but also built a sense of trust and camaraderie in the class early in the year.”

After spending a few minutes there, I headed down one floor to the Photography Studio, where students were equally immersed in what was happening. I popped in just as guest artist Jacob McEachern was leading a light-painting workshop. Teacher Christian Willis describes the experience: “In our Intermediate and Advanced Photography classes, we had the privilege of welcoming guest artist Jacob McEachern, a professional freelance photographer specializing in the action sports industry. Jacob, along with his wife and assistant/model Olivia Luxon, shared their insights into what it takes to thrive as a freelance photographer. The day culminated in an immersive light-painting workshop for the Advanced students, offering them hands-on experience and valuable knowledge about field photography. This experience provided students with a deeper understanding of the complexities and possibilities within their craft.”

As I made my way back to the clay studio, the same sense of joy and focus I had witnessed throughout the building was reflected in Daman Grava’s Introduction to Ceramics & Sculpture class—the kind of energy that reminds us all why learning through hands-on experience is so powerful, and why this year is shaping up to be something truly special.

Fall Preview: Student Art Show
 

I’m excited to announce our first student art show of the year, "Fall Preview," hosted in the Pigott Family Arts Center from Oct. 23 to Nov. 29. This exhibition offers a glimpse into the creative process, highlighting the unique strengths and early growth of our visual arts students.

In addition to regular gallery hours, we’ve added special open gallery times on Nov. 14, 15, and 16 from 4-7 p.m., and we encourage you to stay afterward for the drama program’s fall play. This is a great opportunity to connect with the students' work and experience the dynamic energy and creativity that’s happening in our studios. We hope to see you there!

Jacob Foran is Lakeside’s Upper School Ceramics & Sculpture teacher and 5-12 visual arts department head. You can reach him at 206-440-2897.