According to Ms. Stewart,
the artist‑in‑residence project
“provided a richness of
experience for the students. It is a
unique opportunity for students –
from working with a professional
to seeing collaboration at work.”
Ms. Stewart continued, “It will be
great to see how students react
A student breaks tile into mosaic pieces that will be used
for the artwork.
Among the more than 400 high
school students who elected to take
an art class this year, Daniel said, “I
like art. It really interests me.” Like the
other art students, he was enthusiastic
about working under the direction
of artist-in-residence Laura Jean
McLaughlin.
While across the nation schools are
cutting art budgets, Fox Chapel Area
High School continues to grow art
programs – in numbers of course
offerings, variety of art media, and
students who choose to participate in
one or more art classes. Courses are
offered both as five-day and threeday a week options to accommodate
the scheduling needs of students
and include three or four levels of
computer art, ceramics and fibers,
jewelry and glass, drawing and
painting, and photography. A handson art history course, as well as Studio
Art Advanced Placement (AP) and Art
History AP courses and a portfolio
class are also part of the curriculum.
The high school has a National Art
Honor Society and various art clubs
and organizations. Additionally,
students frequently are involved in
innovative opportunities such as
the artist-in-residence project, the
Major Works and Grand Salon crosscurricular experiences, and a huge
exhibit at the G-20 Student Summit
held at Fox Chapel Area High School
several years ago.
In the spring of 2015, Fox Chapel
Area High School became the first
school to be awarded a Programs
of Distinction status in the visual
arts, a new program by the Middle
States Association Commissions on
Elementary and Secondary Schools.
Students place mosaic tiles on one of the panels for the outdoor sculpture.
Fox Chapel Area | Spring 2016 | icmags.com 19
FOX C HAP E L ARE A SC HOOL N E WS
“This will
be here for a
long time and
knowing you
worked on it
is pretty cool,”
said Daniel.
Daniel Andrud, a ninth grader who
recently moved to Fox Chapel Area
from Michigan, says he is impressed
with the fact that there are so
many opportunities for students to
experience art classes and different art
media here. “Other places are cutting
down their art programs,” he said.
Fox Chapel Area
Other art
students also
took turns in
photographing
work to
document
the progress
throughout
the duration
of the project.
Portions
of their
documentation
can be seen on the district’s
website at http://www.fcasd.edu/
arts/artist-in-residence.html.
to their work once it is installed.
I think they will be very proud
to see the culmination of their
efforts and to see what they
created be a part of the high
school’s landscape for years to
come. In some sense, it is a way
to leave their mark and a legacy.
It is a testament, not just to
their creative powers, but also to
what they are able to accomplish
when working
together in
an organized
effort toward a
common goal.”