Dear Art Studio Artists and Families,
I am so excited to welcome our new Fine Art Studio members and welcome back all of our returning ones! The Fine Art Studio is filled with unique, gifted, passionate, kind, and talented artists, and I could not be more honored to be here with all of you.
We have so many exciting opportunities and events in store for you this year. We will begin the year with our Faculty and Staff Art Show opening on October 13th, followed by our Student Curated Art Show opening on November 17th. In December, we will host our Winter Semi-Annual Art Show, followed by our Senior Show Series and the Spring Semi-Annual Art Show. We will continue the tradition of the Art Studio Internship and the Art Studio Newsletter, two terrific ways our student artists can have a voice in the studio's leadership. Our Fine Art Parent Association will continue the Visiting Artist series, ensuring every student can learn from professionals in art-related fields. To learn more about what the year will look like, please review and bookmark all of the information detailed after this letter.
I want to thank our wonderful teachers for working hard to plan for a great year ahead; we are so lucky to have them.
I wish you all a wonderful year and look forward to seeing you in class and at an Art Show soon!
Sincerely,
Heather O'Connell
Assistant Principal of Fine Arts
HPolacik@schools.nyc.gov
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So, what will this year look like in the Fine Art Studio?
Art Courses
All first- and second-year students have been programmed for foundation-level courses and
All third and fourth-year students have been programmed for advanced-level courses. All Seniors have been programmed for Art History, where, in addition to an exciting curriculum of Art History, they will engage in final preparations for the Arts Commencement exam in January. As a reminder, and for those new to our community, please review the Fine Arts Studio Course Offerings to learn more about our classes.
Art Shows
Art Shows are among the most exciting parts of being a Fine Art Studio major! Please mark your calendar and make it to as many Art Show Openings as possible. Our Art Show Openings are on Fridays from 1:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays at varied times. Digital Posters for each show created by our incredible Digital Media Students will be released about a month prior to each show and will detail date and time information, you can also find this information on our school calendar. Submission details for the Student Curated Art Show will be available in October, and Senior Show Applications will be available in December.
October 13: Faculty and Staff Art Show
November 17&18: Student Curated Art Show (open to all students, application based)
December 8 & 9: Winter Semi-Annual Art Show (open to all students, teacher selections)
March 1 & 2: Senior Show 1 (open to all Seniors, application based)
March 22 & 23: Senior Show 2 (open to all Seniors, application based)
April 12 & 13: Senior Show 3 (open to all Seniors, application based)
May 31 & June 1: Spring Semi-Annual Art Show (open to all students, teacher selections)
Art Supplies: Donate here!
All students have access to the supplies they will need for class in our classrooms. This school year, we will continue vital fundraising efforts to close funding gaps. Our Fine Art Studio Parent Association is our biggest supporter, helping us to make this possible. If you are in a position to donate, we thank you! We are so lucky to have a wonderful and supportive community that helps to ensure that all kids in our program have access to the art supplies they need!
Open Studio
Our Open Studios are spaces where Fine Art majors can continue work on a class project or engage in personal artwork. Open Studio is staffed with one of our Fine Arts teachers who can provide extra help to students in need. Open Studios are an excellent place for our Juniors and Seniors who may want more studio time to work on their college portfolios. While each Open Studio takes place in a specialized art studio space, please note that you can go to any Open Studio room to engage in your work. If you are going to a room different from the space you have art class in, be sure to bring your supplies from class. Open Studio will be available during all lunch periods.
*Our Open Studio Schedule will be shared with students and families before the end of the month!
College Portfolio Support: Open Studios
All Juniors and Seniors are encouraged to attend Open Studio to receive support with their Portfolio. Every Open Studio teacher is available to review your Portfolio and guide you through the art college application process. As a reminder, our students begin preparing for college portfolios in their first year of our art classes! It is important that all students save digital photographs of each work they create in class, so that they have a comprehensive portfolio to pull from for college applications. It would help if you also shared your college application plans with your double-period art teacher, who is there to help and support you.
To review the Portfolio Support Presentation shared during Mayfolio last year, go here and here.
News N Notes
Each month, you will receive our student-led department newsletter, News N Notes, in your email associated with your student/parent account. This newsletter will contain information about our studio and the excellent outside opportunities available to students. This is our main form of communication in the Fine Arts Studio and I thank the incredible team of students who work so hard each month to make it happen. To see past editions of our newsletter, go here, and keep an eye on your email and our website for the September ‘23 edition!
Art Studio Internship
Open to Fine Art Studio majors in all grades. The Art Studio Internship is a beautiful opportunity to get involved in Fine Art Studio activities. Please keep an eye out for the September News N Notes which will have a link to the application.
Commencement Exam: Seniors
All Seniors will participate in the Arts Commencement Exam in January. This city-wide exam typically consists of an art portfolio and a written exam. Fine Art Studio majors begin preparing for this exam in their year-one art classes, helping us to achieve a high success rate. Specific preparations for this exam will take place in your Art History class. If you have questions about the Commencement Exam, please get in touch with your Fine Art teacher, who will help you.
Studio Sponsorship:
If you are in a position to sponsor one of our wonderful studios, or have connections to companies who might be interested, please see our Sponsorship Opportunities, here. To learn more, please contact our Art Studio Parent Representatives, art@laguardiahspa.org
Staying Informed
Who should I contact if I have a question about my art classes?
Your double-period Fine Art teacher is there to help guide you through everything related to the Fine Art Studio. They will help direct you to the right people if they do not have the answer to your question.
We have three wonderful guidance counselors for the Fine Art Studio who are here to help you. Mr. Pappas, Ms. Wang, and Mr. Cohen are in room 321, our dedicated Fine Arts Guidance Suite.
Please do not hesitate to contact me, room 761 & HPolacik@schools.nyc.gov.
How do I stay informed about everything happening in the Fine Art Studio?
1. Weekly Bulletin: Yellow Sheet
The school’s Yellow Sheet will highlight important school information including Fing Arts news and will be emailed to students and families every Friday
2. Fine Art Studio Page- LaGuardia Websitehttps://www.laguardiahs.org/studio_fine_arts
*new* The Fine Arts page will be updated frequently to include messaging and pertinent studio information
3. Art Studio News N Notes’
This is our Student-led monthly newsletter celebrating Fine Art Studio happenings. This is where you will find Art Show information, Art Show reviews, class spotlights, important updates, outside opportunities and much more! You will receive News N Notes via email and it will be posted on our website
4. Art Studio Parent Association Newsletter
Our wonderful Art PA sends out a newsletter via email to help keep everyone informed. sign up here
5. Art Studio Instagram: @lagartdepartment
Follow us! Our Instagram page is run by our Student Art Rep, Jolin in collaboration with student leaders in our program
