If These Hands Could Talk

Self Portrait Show

As we rejoined the community this year, identity exploration was very much on our minds as evident by the wide range of visual and media art projects students undertook this year and through the work students engaged with in Seminar. The Self Portrait project began as a way for students to think about their identity through an alternative form of self portraiture. Katie Thoma’s Upper School 3D Design 1, 2, and 3 classes were introduced to the mold making process and were tasked with making a concrete cast of their hand in an open palm position. They were then asked to select an object that was representative of some aspect of their identity that they felt was important to communicate to the viewer. The object is meant as an offering to the viewer—an invitation to get to know the artist in a new way.

From individual interests such as rocketry, music, and drawing, to more personal experiences like honoring one’s racial or religious heritage, students turned a seemingly simple exercise into a true artistic expression of self.

“I chose to use the negatives from my film camera and disposable film cameras because it not only represents my love for capturing moments but it shows photos of the most important people in my life. My friends and family have always had an impact on my identity and have made me who I am. I am extremely extroverted and enjoy the company of others. My camera has captured my favorite photos and moments and I believe it represents the best parts of my life.”

- Channing Pauley ’24

“As soon as I learned to hold a pencil, I was drawing. I chose a paintbrush to place in my hand because I have always used art as a coping mechanism. Over the past few years of not attending school like a normal teenager, I spent my free time learning new art skills, improving my painting technique, drawing more, and teaching myself new genres as well. The paintbrush is symbolic of the new world I created for myself and the lessons I learned over these difficult years.”

- Aerin Glaser ’23

“Guarana is a soda, which is only available in Brazil. Made from the berries found near the Amazon, the drink’s distinctive sweet taste, energizing caffeine, and characteristic bubbles give the drink a special place in the memory of any Brazilian. Growing up in the US with a family living a 12 hour plane ride away made it that going to Brazil was special to me and was a defining part of my childhood.

Every time I would get off of the plane, the first thing I would always do was get pao de queso from the first stand I could find at the airport with a can of Guarana Antartica. I would easily go through multiple liter bottles of the drink. I chose this object because the sweet taste instantly transports me back to my childhood, of the smell of fresh pao de queso, and the 6,294 miles between my two worlds.”

- Michael Spector ’23

Participating Students

Aman Granados-Puvvula ’25 Alex Buck ’25 Nolan Miller ’25 Cece Terpening ’25 Harper Brooks ’25 Oliver Lichstein ’25 Hayden Hartman ’25 Jack Phelps ’25 Maxwell Stotsky ’25 Bailey Milken ’25 Paige Albertson ’25 Djuna-Bear Lauder ’25 Lorelei Toley ’25 Gibson Pauley ’25 B Doane ’25 Bodhi Seton ’25 Georgia Miller ’24 Channing Pauley ’24 Ava Schwartzberg ’24 Lany Hill ’24 Rex Gavsie ’24 Toby Gestetner ’24 Marco Reis ’24 Oliver Kane ’24 Emmy Morton ’24 Leyna Amin ’24 Raphael Daneshgar ’24 Brooke Ruttenberg ’23 Ethan Beane ’23 Aerin Glaser ’23 Troy Jones ’23 Truman Pauley ’23 Michael Spector ’23 Asha Gopinath ’23 Austin Kim ’23 Maddie Altman ’23 Naomi Daneshgar ’23 Skye Belker ’23 Maya Stokes ’22