Beginning School children spend time in our Atelier weekly. In the Atelier, children have the opportunity to get messy, try new things, make mistakes, and experiment. The atelierista, in partnership with the classroom teachers, honors children’s wonders and knowledge. Working closely with the children, the atelierista curates fresh, personalized environments that inspire new thinking for each child. The children treat the Atelier like a working studio; materials are abundant and available, and there is ample space to create with many different mediums. In these conditions, community is born, a story is written, and magic is made.

Weekly art classes inspire creativity, confidence, and visual storytelling. Early experiences focus on shapes, color, and fine motor development through guided exploration. As students advance, they experiment with abstract design, landscapes, and artist-inspired techniques. By third and fourth grade, students develop more advanced skills, including three-dimensional drawing, shading, and sketchbook study, learning to observe closely and express ideas visually.

The Middle School Visual Arts Department believes that every student can grow into an artist — and gives them the time to do so. Through diverse media and challenging projects, students develop their creative voice and deepen their artistic abilities. We value the visual arts for building innovative problem-solvers and artistic communicators. Students leave with a lasting relationship with art and an understanding of their own creative potential. Middle School students take up to two visual arts courses per year from grades 5-8. Some examples from our course catalog include:

• Yearbook and Digital Media
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Wearable Art
• Introductory Ceramics
• Digital Fabrication

The Visual Arts Department strives to teach the principles of art using different media and a variety of interesting and challenging lesson plans. The kinds of problems students tackle in the arts are abstract. Solving them builds capabilities that transfer to other subjects. Not only does the CWA visual art program develop students’ inherent talents, it also gives them a background and appreciation of the arts that lasts for a lifetime. Courses in the Visual Arts may be repeated for credit. Upper School students are required to complete one credit of both performing and visual arts. Some examples from our course catalog include:

• Drawing and Painting
• Glass Art
• Yearbook and Digital Media
• Ceramics (Beginning and Advanced)
• AP Studio Art