Creative Arts

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Creative Arts Department co-chair Bill Westenberg reflected on one of the most magical parts of life at Derryfield, and the hole that the arts leave in school culture when they are no longer accessible. True to Derryfield students’ resiliency, that magic appeared in other ways.

When the escape into fantastical adventures and harrowing melodies can no longer be found, the theatre goes black. In January, upper school performers learned the art of film acting during a staged reading of Our Town by Thornton Wilder. These talented performers rose to the challenge with cameras in their faces and determination in their hearts. The masked and socially distanced play was live streamed and is viewable on the Derryfield School Youtube channel.

After a year without any in-person music performances, the spring concert was a beacon of hope for performance artists at Derryfield, especially for the Seniors. Without a musical, concert, or the senior traditions that follow, performers in the Class of 2021 feared they might leave Derryfield without a finale. Westenberg said he was crushed for the students who live to perform. He said it felt like a piece of them was missing until they could finally perform again. Instrumental music teacher Tony Bonjourno said students being unable to perform really “took the wind out of their sails.” In the ensemble, students were still able to play strings, keyboards, and percussion instruments. And, they adapted. All the instrumentalists took on the challenge of learning a new instrument. They explored the history of various instruments and musical time periods. With the help of the relaxing of protocols due to vaccinations and declining case numbers, singers and musicians finally performed unmasked for a live audience of families, faculty, and their peers in the spring.

Performing arts electives adapted to protocols as well. Westenberg unveiled his new course, The History of American Comedy Through Radio, Film, and Television. Students studied cultural considerations of comedy, the way comedy transcends time— or does not, what constitutes humor and the sociocultural power of comedy. “The performing arts give students a sense of cultural literacy,” says Westenberg. “The study of film is as important as written literature now because it is such a cultural touchpoint.” The class iSound was also introduced to Derryfield’s performing arts course catalog this year, in which students learned to use advanced sound production software called Soundtrap to develop musical compositions, arrangements, sound effects, and full songs. Courses like Public Speaking, Filmmaking, and Composition of Film continued this year under adaptations for health protocols.

As Derryfield begins the 2021-2022 school year, performers are elated to return to the stage with a new schedule of performances. The traditional upper school spring play will now be performed in the fall to allow seniors not to miss out due to Independent Senior Projects. The Derryfield Theatre Company took to the stage for a successful production of Twelve Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose. This winter, live musical theatre will return to campus for the first time since February 2020. Bust out your sequins and bell bottoms as Mamma Mia takes the stage of the Nancy S. Boettiger Theatre. “We want to return with a big celebration,” says Director Bill Westenberg who hopes that the joyous piece will signal a return of the community around their longmissed arts. The Middle School will continue the fun in the spring with Shrek, Jr.: The Musical.

VISUAL ARTS

As sanitization protocols brought wall sprays and fog disinfectant, all paper use was suspended, and shared materials became tools of the past, Derryfield creative arts teachers Becky Barsi, Rebecca Karp, and Marcie Roberts worked tirelessly to ensure that art still swirled around the halls of campus.

Derryfield art students are used to seeing their art hanging from every available wall. Unfortunately, due to sanitation recommendations and protocols from our experts, there was potential for damage to hanging artwork, which meant that it all had to be taken down. Creative arts department co-chair Becky Barsi knew that the sterile school needed some color, so Derryfield hired mural artist Mike Durkee to fill the blankness of the Lyceum Gallery with colorful reminders of Derryfield’s core values. The art pieces that would normally be displayed in the gallery were moved to an online format for enjoyment by the whole community.

During the fall term, classes with numbers that exceeded social distancing capacity used “mothership” and “satellite” spaces to allow students to learn synchronously in separate rooms through video conferencing. In art classes, this change was especially challenging due to the historically collaborative nature of the subject. Social distancing made collaborative art nearly impossible, but students learned instead to participate in the form of art critique. Art faculty created individual art material kits to ensure each student had access to materials wherever they were learning from. Derryfield art teachers felt proud to still be able to create a rigorous and engaging learning environment through the peak of the pandemic.

Community events like pop-up shows, exhibitions, visiting artist installations, and more were no longer able to be held as in-person events this year. Students did, however, still have access to the benefits of these types of events and more, due to the ease of meeting virtually with guest speakers and artists, attending virtual exhibitions, and networking with alumni artists across the country. Becky Barsi highlighted that, “to be able to speak with artists in the field really magnifies the impact of the arts and impact of the curriculum in the course.”

With this sentiment in mind, students can be most excited for the return of arts trips this year. Derryfield’s Advanced Studio Art course features museum visits to Boston and New York City as highlights of the program. These opportunities allow students to learn from professionals in the field and solidify the knowledge gained in the classroom.