The Convergence Art Show includes artworks from Painting and Drawing I and II, Photography I and II, Ceramics, Clay Design and Engineering I and II, Advanced Art Studio Intensive, and Middle School Visual Art. Instead of an art show opening, the show on May 21 will be the official closing of the exhibition.

For the first time, the art department has hired installers for the art show due to different safety concerns regarding pieces hung outside. The installers also allow for greater freedom in how pieces are displayed.

“[Installers] give us a leg up on exhibition quality for the girls at the end of the year, because they work really hard, and they should get their pieces in the best light,” said Clay Design and Engineering I and II Teacher Ms. Lorri Dyer.

The Ceramics and Clay Design and Engineering I and II classes have experienced some difficulties meeting deadlines for the art show. Students are expected to be prepared for the art show two weeks in advance to allow sufficient time for drying and kiln firings. For the art show, the Clay Design and Engineering II class was instructed to create a piece from a word prompt of their choosing. The Clay Design and Engineering I class’ final assignment was open to student choice. Projects include vases, teapots, sculptures, and many more. “I feel like you get to see a lot of personality in [ceramic projects], not just the piece, but also you get to know the artist a bit more,” said Catherine P. ’28, a Clay Design and Engineering I student.

In the Photography I class, students made their own fonts from different photos of letters they either created or found in nature. Photography students were encouraged to explore their community through photos and translate these experiences into their works for the show. Photography students’ pieces are to be displayed in both the Main Hall and Karsh. 

The Painting and Drawing classes, taught by Mr. David Prince, teach students both technical and critical thinking skills. Painting and Drawing I and II artworks will be shown in the Main Hall. Painting and Drawing I students combined elements of real life with those from their imagination. Liv C. ’28, a Painting and Drawing I student, noted that in the class, they do “a discussion on our process, what we were thinking while making it, and what we want the viewer to get out of it.”

All the works center around convergence, a theme that was created by Advanced Art Studio Intensive and Advanced Art Studio Practicum. These classes serve as the most advanced art opportunities and encourage students to experiment and approach art critically. The Convergence show encapsulates the Westridge Art experience, with so many classes across the Middle and Upper School converging in a final celebration of art at Westridge.