Classroom Happenings: The Universal Language of Art

On April 23, eighth-grade art students explored Richmond’s Visual Arts Center — known as VisArts — on a field trip led by Lower/Middle School Visual Arts Teacher Abby Klein. The trip was sponsored by the VisArts Engage program, which invites schools to visit the Center, tour its gallery, and participate in hands-on workshops. 

The gallery featured a wide variety of art: sculptures, paintings, jewelry, glass, acrylic art, and more created by VisArts employees, teachers, and artists-in-residence. The tour inspired a thoughtful discussion among students. 

“My students have been learning in class how to look at art critically, ask questions, and express their interpretations,” said Ms. Klein. “Walking through the gallery allowed them to slow down, reflect on what they saw, and describe how the various pieces made them feel.”

Holden Teague ’29 enjoyed seeing the wide array of art on display in the gallery. 

“Some of it surprised me,” he said, “from abstract pieces to works that I found to be stunning. A painting of Richmond affected me: The amount of detail within that painting was impressive.” 

Following the tour, the group headed to the VisArts studio for a workshop led by local artist Casha Stempniewicz, who guided the students in creating art in response to works they had seen in the gallery. Ms. Klein said, “Ms. Stempniewicz talked about drawing inspiration from our surrounding environment and using geometric shapes to guide our own expressive abstract pieces.” Using paint sticks, oil pastels, and lots of imagination, our Spartan artists created their works of art, putting their new perspectives into practice.

“We made abstract drawings on large pieces of paper,” said Marita Allen ’29. “To add some color, we used wax sticks that helped reinforce the abstract look. Art is an important part of my life because it makes me forget about everything else that’s going on. It is a fun way to escape reality.” 

At Steward, students in all divisions thrive through hands-on learning in all disciplines, including the arts. The arts program at Steward aligns with our core values of inspiration, innovation, and individuality.

“The visual arts for Middle School Spartans — sketching, watercolor, printmaking, sculpture, 3-D arts, ceramics, and photography — are magnificent in their scope and reach,” said Ms. Klein. “I’m always thrilled to share the unlimited facets of artistic expression with students. We came away from our time at VisArts with a deeper appreciation for visual art — and for our own creative voices.”