Art, in all forms, is a curation of thought, feeling, and imagination. Dancers’ expression is highlighted through choreographed movement, perfected after endless rehearsals allowing the dancers to utilize newfound teamwork and skill refined through curating a synchronized performance. Vocalists master notes, and harmonies so pure and effortless they move audiences to tears. Creative writers weave words together to transform emotion into something tangible, connecting with readers and listeners alike who share their love for literature and storytelling. Instrumentalists spend countless hours, in and out of school, blessing our ears with living music. Theatre students embody new characters, supported by their tech team who set the tone through lighting and design; while the actors learn more about themselves through every role. Photography captures memorable moments at Mayfield and the beauty of the community we live in. Visual artists pour emotion into each brushstroke, each blend of color, and find peace in creation itself.
Recently, Mayfield held its All Arts Night, an special event where every art conservatory showcases the dedication and creativity they incorporate into their artwork. Students in Conservatories spend at least four hours a week in order to execute outstanding performances and create astonishing exhibits. Through each of these Conservatories, students are given a chance to express their unique individuality through skill, emotion, and artistry, not just through simplicity of words but the inspiring emphasis each artist curates for their audiences.
All Arts night celebrates this collective effort through stunning live performances and displays.
As a Visual Arts Conservatory student, I have been learning oil painting. Far from mastery, I was still proud of the progress I’d made since the start of the school year. My parents always knew how happy I was by the splatters of paint on my hands, arms, clothes and even my face, every time they picked me up from Visual Arts Conservatory twice a week. I couldn’t wait for them to see my finished piece at All Arts Preview.
We walked through Commons, Pike, the patio, and Pergola Lawn, yet my artwork was nowhere to be found. Eventually, my parents discovered it tucked away downstairs in Strub, in a dimly-lit hallway. The library lights were off since and the hallway was quiet except for the footsteps echoing above on the second floor. My painting was there, but under the glare of the light, the colors looked too shiny, the emotions I’d painted seemed hidden. My parents smiled and congratulated me, but a thought lingered: why wasn’t my art being seen? Was it not good enough?
But the truth is, all art is good enough. All Arts Preview should be a celebration of every student’s voice, no matter the medium or spotlight.
So here’s my proposal: how can Mayfield incorporate art more deeply into everyday life on campus? If I asked you whether you’d seen a certain student’s artwork during a normal school day, you might say, “Oh yeah, I think I saw something in the hallway.” Yet Mayfield’s Conservatories are what makes a school community unlike any other, and too often, their students’ works go unseen.
I want everyone to be seen. Every conservatory, dance, vocal, instrumental, theatre, photography, creative writing, and visual arts, all deserve recognition for the emotion, time, and creativity poured into the work they spent hours creating. What can we, as a community, do to highlight the incredible talent within our school? How do we make every student’s work feel valued, seen, and celebrated for the art that defines how one can express themself?
