Page 8 - Priorities #11 1999-October Annual Report

Visual Arts
A few years ago, the Woodside Priory School Course Guide listed just one fine arts elective — Father Martin’s ever-popular photography (one of the very few courses of its type to be accredited by the University of California).
Last year was the beginning of
an explosion in new courses, with a
new emphasis in ceramics and the
addition of classes in sculpture and
design. Students wanted to try them
all, so this year the curriculum includes Art Foundations, which incorporates ceramics, sculpture and design. Also on the course list is metalsmithing, visual media, another ceramics class, Advanced Placement Studio Art Portfolio — and photography. An advanced multi-media computer station is in the works.
Last spring, Department Head Cayewah Easley and the high school art students mounted Free Minds, their first gallery showing. Visual arts now blossom all over the campus.
An additional faculty member and 1,600 square feet of additional studio space were needed to accommodate all this action. The current Fine Arts Building now houses additional potter’s wheels and work space. A new metalsmithing studio with specially designed workbenches was completed over the summer. A new art studio, a larger and newly equipped photography darkroom, and a projection room/classroom should all be ready by early November.
(Top) Construction began this summer on an addition to the Visual Arts Labs. It will help house the many new courses added in the last and current academic years. The building should be complete by early November.
(Middle) Wendy Potloff uses advanced technology in her English, Foreign Language and Social Studies classes. This summer she received a summer grant to upgrade equipment for the yearbook staff.
(Bottom)FatherEgon,afounderofWoodsidePriorySchool, is still a vital participant in Woodside Priory community life. He rarely misses alumni events or gatherings of Priory friends from the early years. He was even on hand for the opening-of-school parent barbecue this fall.
Priory English teacher Sue Koppett describes her methdology as “so traditional it’s radical.” Many Priory alumni remember it as the writing and grammar training that carried them through college. This year her freshman intensive writing/ research class, which she teaches with Susan Falaschi, is revised and expanded. Also new this year is 20-minute English drill and review software for students to use in the computer lab.
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