Visual Arts Showcase

This spring, four Upper School student curators—Adelaide '27, Margeaux '27, Charlie '26, and Casper '27—brought their vision to life in the Shen Gallery with the exhibition "Reimagining Reality: The Pursuit of Creativity Through Materials." From concept to installation, the students led the curatorial process, selecting works of art that explore themes of power, upcycling, sustainability, and self-expression.

As part of the curation process, students discussed content for the exhibition and reached out to artists from New York all the way to Oak Park, Illinois. Through the direction of faculty member Liz Titone, they worked from October through April to produce a creative framework and plan the show. The final exhibit featured work in several different media by artists Bryan Northup, Elena Velez, Ian Trask, Niki Lederer, Rebecca Chamberlain, Seema Lisa Pandya, and Shari Mendelson. It opened in the Shen Gallery with a community reception on April 8, 2025.

From the students' exhibition statement:

Upcycling is not just a term that should be embedded into our life more; it is a form of originality that all seven of these artists have successfully presented, transforming what is typically deemed as waste, into meaningful works of art through creative action. Our core mission is to connect and collaborate with various communities within Packer, and to deepen our community’s understanding of sustainability—not just as a practice of recycling but as an artistic pursuit. We encourage viewers to hold onto the ideas of upcycling, and promote it on a daily basis. Between artists, students, and teachers, we strive to reach a goal of making a real impact on the larger community.

Artists: Bryan Northup, Elena Velez, Ian Trask, Niki Lederer, Rebecca Chamberlain, Seema Lisa Pandya, and Shari Mendelson

Student Curators: Adelaide '27, Margeaux '27, Charlie '26, and Casper '27 | Spring 2025