From December 8, 2023, to February 5, 2024, Germantown Academy’s 2024 Honors Art Show took place in the Art Center, featuring works from students enrolled in 2D, 3D, sculpture, photography, and digital media courses. The show is an annual GA tradition where all honors visual art students can display their growth and creativity for the wider GA community to observe.
The showcase serves not only as a display but also as a way for students to express themselves. Teachers, such as Ms. Sara Ritz, an Upper School 3D and sculpture teacher, and Mr. David Love, an Upper School 2D drawing and painting teacher, foster an environment where students can grow in their artistic journey by experimenting with various mediums and techniques.
“In a way, it’s similar to raising kids,” Ms. Ritz said. “You get to see them when they’re little, and then you get to see them grow up and go off into the world with new confidence.”
“Having the opportunity to work with students that are really motivated and passionate about drawing and painting is really exciting, fun, and rewarding,” Mr. Love said.
For GA’s art teachers, the commitment goes beyond the curriculum by fostering an environment where students can explore and grow as individuals. Many teachers share the philosophy of emphasizing the importance of a safe, collaborative space.
“I want them to kind of forget the judgment piece for a little while,” Ms. Ritz said. “And be able to take risks because I find that it helps kids not choose the safe answer.”
Jules Coren ‘25, a sculpture and design student, finds inspiration in their family’s medical background, manifesting into their projects, as their works revolve around anatomical themes. Coren embraces the humor in their art and hopes the people viewing can acknowledge it, too.
“I like sharing my work with every community that I can,” they said. “I think people can look at it and be like, that’s a bit silly.”
Jazziah Manning, ‘25, an honors photography student, also provided her perspective on her upper school art experience. She focuses on candid photos, which she finds interest in capturing people in their natural state.
“I have a lot of fun taking people’s photos, especially middle-schoolers when they’re at lunch,” Manning said. “They really enjoy being in my pictures.”
However, creating art comes with challenges for both the students and the teachers. For students, many challenges occur during brainstorming and discovering the best way to carry out their projects. For teachers, the most challenging aspect is knowing when to step in and when to let them figure out their struggles independently.
“You don’t want someone to get totally frustrated,” Ms. Ritz said. “But you also want to send the message that they’re actually capable of figuring out a lot of this independently.”
“All human beings have challenges,” Mr. Love said. “But eventually, it [creating art] takes time.”
Coren also reflects on their struggles as students, which revolve around coming up with ideas.
“I have a lot of fun while I’m doing the project itself,” Coren said. “But it’s the brainstorming to get to the point of creation I find hard.”
Coren says they can overcome the challenge by finding inspiration through music and thinking about things they enjoy.
Despite the hurdles, the joy of creating art that fascinates and captivates the GA community makes the experience worthwhile. The annual Honors Art Show demonstrates the perseverance of teachers and students in overcoming challenges that contributed to the success of this event.
“The creativity of our students is only matched by their intellect,” Ms. Ritz said. “It’s wild and so fun to see.”