3 minute read
The Peck School Alumni Spotlight
Peter Shalit '03: FOR ART'S SAKE
By Taylor (Worthington) Williams '03, Alumni Relations Associate
Now a successful painter specializing in a unique blend of acrylics and mindfulness, Peter Shalit’s journey as an artist hasn’t been a straightforward one.
After graduating from The Peck School in Morristown, NJ, Shalit excelled in math and science classes at Morristown High School, securing a scholarship to The College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University. However, as a college freshman, he quickly realized he was missing something in his studies—art.
Unable to take any art courses as an engineering major, he decided to forego engineering and turned his attention to psychology, anthropology, and philosophy.
Art—and the emotions connected to it—had always been in the back of Shalit’s mind, and his college professors encouraged him to pursue his passion.
From the beginning at Peck, he had always found joy in art classes, where his creativity was tested and what he described as “bottled-up” energy was released.
After an internship as a graphic designer, Shalit moved to Shanghai to study Eastern philosophy and practices in tai chi, qi gong, yoga, and Reiki.
Back in the States, Shalit got the opportunity to run the Mindful Center at Ramapo College. Here, mindfulness and art finally connected and he had his a-ha moment. Shalit says he sees “art and mindfulness as ways to connect to life.”
With his pivot in college and life experiences thereafter, Shalit has a deep understanding that the principles of psychology and anthropology enhance character development. It involves exploring concepts such as personality traits, motivations, behaviors, and emotional responses.
When Shalit meets with a client, he loves to read their energy and, if given permission, creates artwork for the client based on their energy.
His works are “co-creations, a living relation- ship between [himself] and the painting… honoring the balance between action and space. In meditation, the breath is a teacher, exhaling-releasing and inhaling-receiving. The breath is also seen as a mentor in art, releasing—allowing space—and receiving—allowing creativity—to flow in.”
While Shalit’s road to becoming an artist may not have been conventional, he credits his teachers at Peck for giving him an artistic outlet.
His success as an artist is a testament to his dedication and talent. He has remained true to his artistic vision and has never compromised his artistic integrity. His journey from a gifted student to a successful artist inspires all those who aspire to pursue their passions and make a career in the arts.
Shalit’s artwork can be found at Dakota Arts Gallery in Bedminster, NJ or on Instagram @dakota.arts_
The Peck School is a K-8, co-ed, independent school in Morristown, NJ. www.peckschool.org
We set the standard for excellence in K-8 education, where academic preparation and character development intersect powerfully in the learning experience. By embedding consideration of others, service, and belonging in all that we do, we are designing an integrated approach to education that develops curious and disciplined learners who positively shape the world.
