Art Fun-damentals

By Caren Handleman

At a time when many schools are cutting back on the arts, Fort Worth Country Day continues to support and encourage students to explore and experiment in all aspects of the arts.

Recognizing the value and importance of the arts in developing creativity, organizational know-how, problem-solving skills, and the ability to look at everyday objects with new appreciation and vision, FWCD reestablished the Art Fundamentals course to introduce students to studio art (drawing and painting), ceramics and photography, in a yearlong, hands-on course, typically taken during freshman year. Team-taught by Holly Clifford (studio art), Jerry Mahle (ceramics) and Sil Azevedo (photography), the course provides two essential functions: allowing students to have hands-on exploration of each art form and working with each faculty member, who refer to the course as Art Fun-damentals.

Course Structure

Providing the foundation for FWCD visual arts courses, this class is a prerequisite for the specialized Ceramics, Painting & Drawing and Photography courses. Students are introduced to each discipline, which leads to a common vocabulary and hands-on design experiences. The textbook: a sketchbook for students to record their notes, drawings and design exercises.

Divided into four segments, the first is a series of teamtaught lectures by the three faculty, focusing on the elements and principles of design. During this section, instruction concentrates on what makes great design in art and a sampling of art history, including artists past and present. For the remainder of the course, students split into three groups, each rotating through the hands-on portion of the course, Painting & Drawing, Ceramics and Photography.

The course format allows students to experiment and build confidence before committing to one specific area. Some students spend a couple years in one area, then decide to venture into another, a change that is easier when students and teachers know one another.

Each faculty member is a talented artist who continues developing their talents and skills and participating in professional activities, which means FWCD students learn under true professional artists who know their media and are well-versed in current practices.

Holly Clifford - Painting & Drawing

Working in watercolor, drawing and mosaics, Clifford shared that her current focus is still life, primarily with plants as the subject matter. Since joining FWCD in 1998, she has taught art for grades K-12 and enjoys when students return to share their artwork and experiences with art through travel and museum visits.

She finds it especially fulfilling when students make connections with something they experienced in her class and can bring a new perspective to what they see. “I enjoy seeing my students run away with projects and blow me away with their skill, progress and personal successes,” Clifford said. “I think the Art Fundamentals course is a great way for kids to unplug and be alone with their thoughts and creativity. It is a respite.”

Jerry Mahle - Ceramics

Mahle joined FWCD in 1998 and shared that the quality of the visual arts program, both in terms of teachers and facilities, is comparable to what a student would experience at a well-funded program at a small college. For the ceramics program, this means students have access to all types of kilns and can make their own glazes, which allows them to investigate and experience the physics and chemistry of ceramics.

When asked about the importance of visual arts to students, Mahle said, “Art allows you to find ways to explore your creativity, and that self-expression can seed different parts of your life.” He also acknowledged the vital role of Evelyn Siegel H’99, the art teacher who shaped FWCD’s art program.

When creating his personal art, Mahle uses the same materials his students use. This allows him to be familiar with challenges students face when creating ceramics; he shares that he learns a great deal from them.

Sil Azevedo Photography

Azevedo said the Art Fundamentals course allows the faculty to work closely with colleagues and appreciate each other’s crafts and teaching styles.

Until this year, the course started with film photography and darkroom development processes. However, COVID-19 safety guidelines limit working in confined spaces, and the darkroom is closed. As a result, Azevedo revamped the course to focus on digital photography. He emphasizes lines, textures, design and reflections as elements of composition, important in both film and digital photography. He has been pleased that students learn how to use the camera to see things differently and creatively within two or three assignments.

This class is often the first contact most students have with photography as an art form. For those who fall in love with it, photography can become a lifelong pursuit that brings great satisfaction in terms of creativity.

At age 7, Azevedo was given a Kodak Instamatic camera and has been in love with photography ever since. His first career was as an architect, and then he became a professional photographer. When asked to create a photography program at a Dallas independent school, he discovered teaching to be his true calling. For his personal photography, Azevedo uses both film and digital and favors black-and-white photography.

Arts Education

FWCD’s curricula give equal importance to academics, arts and athletics. The continued investment of arts education for students, both in terms of professional arts faculty and allowing time in student schedules for all forms of artistic expression, means Falcons are well-rounded. When they see a painting, photo or vessel, they can appreciate the skill required, understand the design process and the importance of art in our lives. The collaboration among the teachers that I have witnessed has been amazing, and the students are enjoying the opportunity this course has offered,” said Chelsy Beninate, Director of Fine Arts. “I cannot wait to see what evolves out of the endeavor. I continue to be in awe of the flexibility and creativity of our faculty. There is a peace in the space in which the students learn. I office out of that same space and the calm, peaceful atmosphere allows students to truly soar. Their faces light up when they enter the space. I long for the time when we can again share this space all together.”