On Saturday, March 15, the Garrison Art Center held a reception for the Garrison Art Center Mentor Program group exhibition, which included the work of several Haldane artists. The Mentor Program was started in 1988. It is a unique opportunity for high school artists to get paired with professionals working in their medium to help grow students’ artistic abilities. The program gives students access to personalized guidance and collaboration to help them acquire skills supporting their future artistic aspirations.
To be a part of the Mentor Program, each student applicant had to submit an artist statement that layed out a clear plan for their work and how the mentorship program would benefit their artist’s journey. The proposal had to include each mentee’s goal, the medium they would be working with, and how the mentorship would help them accomplish their goal. At the end of October, 12 applicants from high schools in the region were accepted into the program–with nine of these from Haldane High School. Accepted mentees were paired with a mentor who would work with them to achieve the goal they wrote about in their proposal.
Haldane senior Charles Rowe made five marbleized mugs and saucers with a mix of white porcelain and blue mason stain. Rowe had to work quickly and carefully to ensure the colors didn’t mix. He has been a part of the Mentor Program for the past three years with his mentor Trevor McGee. When Rowe was asked about his experience he said that the Mentor Program allowed him to “advance [his] pottery skills beyond what was taught in class”. The Mentor Program gives Rowe and many other young artists the opportunity to expand on what they know and learn with the help of the professional artists they are paired with.
The Mentor Program allowed Haldane junior Eowyn Kolarek to realize “that [she] wanted to sculpt more than be on the wheel, which was [her] true passion.” Her mentor, Ada Pilar Cruz, is a remarkable sculptor who was able to help Kolarek pick apart the anatomy behind her idea to make a ribcage and heart. Kolarek said that the Mentor Program is a “great program to push yourself and see what you’re capable of, and just have fun.” She used her time in the Mentor Program to make pieces for the art portfolio, which she will submit when applying to colleges in the fall.
Other Haldane participants included sophomore Hazel Berkley, mentored by Linda Barboni; junior Ada Caccamise, mentored by Terry Boice; junior Lenny Chandler, mentored by T. Charnan Lewis; senior Kira Drury, mentored by Lisa Knaus; sophomore Jackie McCormick, mentored by Emily Brown; sophomore Ruby McCormick, mentored by Daniel Loxton; and junior Louisa Schimming, mentored by Regina Gelfer.
The Garrison Art Center Mentor Program has given high school students from Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester Counties a safe and supportive place to expand their skills and make connections with peers and professionals.
