Exploring Art in the Global South The wonders of Walker are evident in our unique fine arts program. February’s Annual Arts Month allows students to step into the spotlight and participate in performances with visiting artists. This year’s theme of The Global South will highlight artistic explorations of both the American South and the Southern Hemisphere. From bluegrass music to culinary traditions to Latin rhythms, the unique sounds and flavors of the South will permeate the hallways of The Walker School for the month of February. Arts Month will open with the Preschool Art Show, a showcase of Impressionist work by our talented young artists. Scott Smoot and the W.arts of Middle School will then entertain students and parents alike with their performance of the musical, Once on This Island, Jr. Renee and Lillian Herrera, the husband-andwife duo that makes up Havana Son, will delight Lower Schoolers and Preschoolers with their authentic Latin rhythms and sounds. Preschoolers will also enjoy weaving and dancing workshops while the Lower Schoolers will focus their talents on juggling and acting. Upper School students will enjoy a unique blend of pop and folk music from singer-songwriter Rebecca Loebe from season one of the popular TV show “The Voice.” Renowned foodie Tamie Cook will focus on the art of Southern cooking featuring a special menu from SAGE Dining Services. February Arts Month will conclude with a school-wide celebration of African-American history and performance, as well as a Mardi Gras celebration at the St. James’ Episcopal Church where former rector Father Joseph T. Walker began The Walker School. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Theatre Arts An appreciation for theatrical arts and dance is instilled in our students from a young age. Under the guidance of Music Specialist Sonya Peebles, more than 300 Lower School students stage plays for weekly assembles and participate in the annual Spring Play. With the help of Director Scott Smoot, the W.arts Middle School Drama Team regularly produces full-length plays, musicals, and comedy revues. Upper School students can choose from a variety of drama electives including dance, stage combat, directing, and musical theater. The Walker School belongs to the International Thespian Society, and students and faculty regularly attend and perform at the Schuler Hensley Awards at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.
Music Students of all ages sing and dance in musical extravaganzas. The Lower School Chorus learns sight-singing, vocal technique, breath control, and ensemble skills, and they showcase their talents each year in a performance for the annual Tree Lighting on Marietta Square. Instrumental music class offerings for all students include Orff instruments in Lower School; Band, Orchestra and Jazz Band in the Middle School; and Concert Band, Jazz Band, pit orchestra, pep band, and diverse ensembles in the Upper School. Student performers also consistently qualify for District 12 Honor Band, GMEA All-State Concert and Jazz Band Auditions, Georgia State Honor Chorus, Georgia Regional Girls’ Choir, GISA All-Select Band and Middle School All-Select Band, and the University of Georgia’s Janfest.
Visual Arts Art education begins at the start of a student’s career at Walker! Preschool students visit the art lab twice a week, where they work with a vast array of materials to produce artwork worthy of being displayed both on the refrigerator and in a gallery. Each February the Preschool showcases the talent of the students in the annual Preschool Art Show. Cultural Arts Director Sherry Walker-Taylor arranges an annual Artists’ Festival on campus for Lower School students; past guests have included a loom weaver, a basket weaver, a painter, a metalsmith, and a ceramic artist. Each year Middle School students draw, paint, and sculpt pieces of their own based on the art of a time period in history or the art of one or several related cultures. During the summer, these creations are exhibited in the Walker Gallery. Under the guidance of acclaimed art teacher Bob Petersen, Upper School students take a wide variety of classes that allow them explore their creativity and self-expression in both 2- and 3-dimensional artwork.
Arts Month Schedule Performances last 30 minutes unless otherwise noted.
Preschool Time Grade Description 2/4,5 @ 7:30 a.m. PK-K Preschool Art Show 2/11 @ 8, 8:35 a.m. PK-K Emily Yewell Volin, two dance workshops (25 min. ea.) 2/20 @ 8:30 a.m. PK Piccadilly Puppets, “Butterfly Ballad” 2/24 @ 8:30 a.m. PK-2 Havana Son, musical duo (45 min.) 2/28 @ 8, 9 a.m. PK-K Joy Johnson, weaver
Venue Preschool Preschool Preschool Auditorium Preschool
Lower School Time 2/4 @ 8, 9, 10 a.m. 2/4-6 @ 8:45-11 a.m. 2/5 @ 8 a.m. 2/6 @ 8, 9 a.m. 2/6 @ 1:15 p.m. 2/7 @ 8:00 a.m. 2/10 @ 8:30 a.m. 2/11 @ 8 a.m. 2/12 @ 8 a.m. 2/18 @ 8:30 a.m. 2/19 @ 3:00 p.m. 2/24 @ 8:30 a.m. 2/25 @ 8:30 a.m. 2/26 @ 10 a.m. 2/27 @ 8:30 a.m.
Grade Description Venue 4 Ron Anglin, juggling workshops Muthiah 2 Kay Rosenblum, acting workshops classrooms 3 Barry Stewart Mann, “Peace Pipes and Talking Leaves” Gatti Hall 5 Laughing Matters, “Improv for Conflict Resolution” LS Library 1 Georgia Ballet, “Carnival of the Animals” Gatti Hall LS W. arts, Once on this Island, Jr. Gatti Hall LS Cedar Hill Bluegrass Band Auditorium 4 Poetry Slam practice Auditorium 4 Poetry Slam Auditorium 3 Brooke and Branch Puppets (60 min.) Gatti Hall LS Faculty arts experience Gatti Hall PK - 2 Havana Son, musical duo Auditorium 3-5 Barrett and Bell, “Poetry off the Page” Gatti Hall 5 + choir Celebration of African-American history Auditorium 3-5 AIRE Flamenco, dance troupe (40 min.) Gatti Hall
Middle School Time 2/4 All morning 2/5 All day 2/6 @ 7 p.m. 2/12 @ 10 a.m. 2/18 @ TBA 2/19 @ 10 a.m. 2/26 @ 10 a.m.
Grade Description Venue 7 Romeo and Juliet at the Shakespeare Tavern off-campus 6 Tim Oliphant, cartoon workshops classroom MS W. arts, Once on this Island, Jr. Auditorium MS Tentative: Dance program provided by our office of Diversity MS Geography meets African Music Gatti Hall MS Battle of the Bands Auditorium MS Celebration of African-American History Auditorium Upper School
Time 2/4 @ 10 a.m. 2/11 @ 10 a.m. 2/18 @ 10 a.m. 2/25 @ 10 a.m. 3/4 @ 10 a.m. 3/4 @ TBA
Grade Description Venue US D’Vine, “Georgia on Their Minds” Auditorium US Rebecca Loebe, singer-songwriter Auditorium US Tamie Cook & SAGE, “The Art of Southern Cooking” Auditorium US Tentative: Dance program by Office of Diversity Auditorium US Mardi Gras celebration with Mr. Motter’s ensemble Auditorium US Mardi Gras at St.James’ Episcopal Church Off-campus
Piccadilly Puppets Havana Son. PHOTO COURTESY OF LILLIAN HERRERA Emily Yewell Volin PHOTO BY JULIA CURRAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Cedar Hill Bluegrass Band
Ron Anglin, juggler. PHOTO BY MIKE MACKEY
Kay Rosenblum
Romeo and Juliet at the Shakespeare Tavern PHOTO BY CHRISTI CHAMBERS
AIRE Flamenco
D’Vine Tim Oliphant, cartoonist
Rebecca Loebe, singer-songwriter
Sponsors
Young Audiences, Woodruff Arts Center (YA) is Georgia’s leading provider of arts-in-education programming. Part of the prestigious 30-chapter national Young Audiences organization and a division of the Woodruff Arts Center, YA brings the power of live arts experiences to Georgia students from pre-school through high school.
Patrons of the Arts (POTA) is a booster club for the arts, offering hands-on support to productions and exhibits, funding arts teachers’ “wish lists,” hosting social events, and annually printing an elegant program covering the Fine Arts at Walker.
The Walker School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educations policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.