News Guest Writer
Almost every weekend the Choate community is privileged with a student performance or production or the presence of a visiting artist. The large turnout at some of these events would suggest that Choate students appreciate the arts. As a costumer and art fanatic myself, I was proud to be part of a student body that understood the true value of art. A recent experience, however, has convinced me that appearance are misleading, and that the Choate community does not appreciate the arts as much as it should.
Last Friday I went to the Visual Arts Faculty Biennale opening. I was honestly impressed by the art on exhibition. Mr. Bradford, better known as a friendly drawing and sculpture teacher, was one of the three artists at this faculty show. I loved his interesting outdoor chair sculptures, with mirrors for seats, wacky colors, and surprising configurations. Mrs. Gustin, the ceramics, painting, and mixed media teacher, showed some impressive water colors and oil paintings. I over -heard the art history teacher commenting on Mrs. Gustin’s oils, yet was surprised a moment later to see that only a few kids seemed interested in what he had to say. My disillusionment only incressed when what appeared to be droves of enthused Choatie art connoisseurs was really a mad rush of students scrambling to sign clipboards. After penning their name in and thus fulfilling the class requirement, the kids scurried to the refreshment table. Then, as if studying the texture and contrast of a Chagall, they picked what free cheeses they wanted and promplty left the show. I am not denying that the cheese was good. I am simply saying that it surprised me that more students weren’t captured by the amazing art.
Visual displays aren’t the only kind of art shown (and underappreciated) at school. Our festival and particularly chamber choir often sing at events like the opening of the renovated chapel; the jazz band is electrifying. Yet the musical performances are notoriously underattended. If the chamber orchestra can draw crowds in Europe and China why can’t they fill up their home auditorium? Then there is Choate’s famous theater department. Theater students put as much effort into the tri-annual stage plays and musicals as professional theater do into their own productions. The casts of these performances are very large and include many members of the community, and still they are not as well-attended as they ought to be. Off the main stage there are also the one-man shows, student-directed scenes, and the student playwriting festival. Though they appear to be given to full houses, the audiences are often comprised of mostly the families and friends of students involved. We could use some Choatie representation here! For those who have estranged themselves entirely from the adjective artsy, there is always the school step squad to watch. They deserve as much cheering and support as any of our school’s sports teams.
It’s a rare opportunity to have the people who teach us how to make art demonstrate their own skills. I don’t think students truly recognize that the arts faculty are not just teachers--they are artists. That’s why it was rather unsettling for me to realize that many people don’t find events like the Bienniale deserving of their time. My friends tell me they are “too busy” to be bothered by another commitment, particularly one that won’t add anything to their college applications. Yet we regularly find the time in our schedules to watch sports games and go out to the movies. One commitment is not more important than another; I simply wish that Choaties would sacrifice a little bit of their time to support Choate’s diverse artists.
