ARTS UPDATE

Dance

This winter, dancers across all three divisions created choreography, developed their technique, and practiced their skills in classes from jazz to tap, modern to ballet, and leaps and turns to acrobatics. Berwick Dance Buddies, an initiative through which Middle School company dancers are matched with Upper School mentors, held its first meeting, and dancers were able to share their pieces and participate in bonding activities. Esteemed choreographer Kristen Jones visited the Upper School Company to set a contemporary piece, and student choreographer Rory Joslin ’23 also set a piece for the Company. Classes began working on original choreography for the Spring Dance Concert “Ignite,” featuring K-12 dancers and the Middle and Upper School Dance Company production of The Little Mermaid

Berwick Academy Theater Productions

In the Upper School, Berwick drama students proudly presented Little Women, directed by visiting artist Amanda Eaton. This award-winning play, adapted by Kate Hammil, is based on the book by Louisa May Alcott, a coming-of-age story of the four March sisters during the Civil War era in New England.

The Upper School winter production, 9 to 5: The Musical , was based on the 1980 film of the same name, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. The production, directed by Middle and Upper School Art

Jackson Library Gallery News

Berwick parent Erin Moore’s 29 Mainers exhibit was on display in the Jackson Library Gallery throughout the fall for students and the larger community to enjoy. The winter exhibition in the gallery featured Pre-K-12 student work in an exhibit called IDENTITY: YOU, ME, US.

Teacher Hevia Paxson, featured a great cast, student tech crew, select student choreography, set designers, and student musicians playing in the pit orchestra.

The Middle School production of The Secret Garden featured student actors and crew members in Grades 5-8 delving into the classic adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel. The Secret Garden was co-directed by Page Rich, Lisa Long, and student tech director Griffin Nedelka ’25.

Visual Arts

Fifth grade students created and studied portraits from various cultures and periods, including the Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald Obama portraits at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Seventh graders were also on-site at the MFA as they began their Global Explorations of South America at Boston’s exhibit.

Senior Studio pinnacle students visited the Judy Pfaff exhibit at the Museum of New Art in Portsmouth. These students will soon create art based on Pfaff’s works and have an opportunity to meet and speak with the artist herself. Several students have committed to internships at the MONA this summer to continue their experiences beyond the studio.

Scholastic Art Awards 2023

Each year, Berwick art students submit work to the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, a national juried competition recognizing excellence in student art and design. In 2022, nine students received recognition for 14 individual artworks and one senior art portfolio at the regional level. Gold Key award artworks move on to the national adjudication in the spring. In the state of Maine, there were nearly 800 submissions, and the selection process was extremely competitive. Maine College of Art and Design will post the results on their website (meca.edu) and create an online exhibition showcasing the awardwinning artwork. Art receiving a Silver Key or Gold Key award was included in the exhibition at the Maine College of Art and Design in Portland this winter.

Award Recipients

Maia Cook ’24:

Gold Key, Painting

Nat Jacuch ’23:

Honorable Mention, Mixed Media

Mischa Landgarten ’23:

Gold Key, Drawing and Illustration;

Silver Key, Drawing and Illustration; Honorable Mention, Drawing and Illustration

Rekha Mahadevan ’23: Silver Key, Mixed Media

Ella Martin ’24:

Honorable Mention, Printmaking

Nate Onken ’27:

Gold Key, Sculpture

Peter Sapiro-Mitten ’23:

Gold Key, Sculpture; Silver Key, Fashion

Chili Dowd ’23: Senior Art Portfolio

Youth Art Month