THE NA COMMUNITY ART EXHIBIT: A 20-YEAR TRADITION

Twenty years ago, former Newark Academy Head of School Penney Riegelman pitched the idea of hosting an NA community art exhibit, with students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and friends contributing works inspired by a common theme. Art Gallery Director Elaine Brodie ran with the idea, and soon after, the first-ever community art exhibit was held in January 2003. The theme, per Penney’s suggestion, was “Secrecy.”

Twenty years later, the community art exhibit is a staple at NA. This year, the theme “Beneath the Surface” brought in an astounding 97 submissions.

“The purpose of the community art exhibit is multifaceted,” says Elaine, who coordinates the show each year in the David Teiger ’47 Gallery for Studio Arts.

“I want the Teiger Gallery to feel accessible to all. Whether you want to share your own works of art or spend time viewing the work of others, the gallery should feel like a welcoming space that belongs to all of us.”

To land on a theme, Elaine spends her summer considering and researching ideas that can yield a variety of interpretations, so that the resulting exhibit has both depth and breadth. She encourages community members to submit a variety of works, not just physical art pieces. Each year the IB/Advanced Dance students choreograph dances inspired by the theme and perform them during Morning Meeting. This year, English teacher Dr. Andrea Lankin submitted a poem for the exhibit.

“The annual community exhibit encourages creativity and ingenuity,” Elaine says. “It also brings us together as a community, as all are welcome to submit. People feel invested in this exhibit and spend some real quality time looking at the art in our gallery.”