It was an absolute delight to welcome the MICDS community to our second annual Arts Fest. The sun was out, the winds made a grand entrance, and there were end-to-end smiles along Carpe Diem Drive.
Parents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and even newly enrolled families for the fall of 2024 joined the festivities for an evening full of the arts. With performances, hands-on art, and much more, creativity was unleashed at every turn.
Dr. Sally Maxwell, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning, said, “This year, teachers wanted to recapture the spirit of what they did last year, or go even bigger! And since we were able to showcase Arts Fest on Carpe Diem drive, it was like opening up our art classes and letting the awesome things that happen in our walls spill outside for everyone to join in. It’s always Arts Fest in our arts classrooms!”
Check out the highlight reel below of the fun that was had!
Entertainment included music and drama performances from Beasley students, faculty and staff, a sax ensemble, the eighth-grade Concert Choir, Upper School thespians with productions of The Good Doctor and Amelie, and the Upper School Chamber Choir, Treble Choir, and Tenor-Bass Choir. For added fun, there was an audience-participation-required Hoedown with the Fiddle Club and a Flash Mob dance performance to close out the night.
Throughout the festival, several art stations were bursting with activities such as mural painting, pottery wheel throwing, theater improv and pantomime, stage makeup for warts & scars, crazy line sculptures, the Mad Splatter, Gelli and LEGO printmaking, a strings instrument testing experience, Blue Man Group-style drumming, and more.
“There is something special about acting with students performing improvs,” said Middle School Arts Teacher & Class of 2028 Dean Charlotte Dougherty. “For a moment in time, we are saying ‘yes’ to each other and freeing the imagination. To me, that is the magic of the arts. Whether you are a performer, observer, or facilitator, it fills the soul. I saw smiling faces everywhere.”
Middle School Arts Teacher Jayme Zimmer added, “For both years that I have run The Mad Splatter, I have been pleasantly surprised at how many parents are willing and joyful to let their kids get a little messy in order to participate. It is so fun to see parents enjoy the arts with their children. It also takes a lot of help to run the activity. I am blown away by the eighth graders willing to jump in, get messy, and engage with the younger participants. They really raise the energy level and make it fun. I appreciate them!”
After the Beasley performance, parents and friends were invited to peruse the outstanding work of our Lower School artists via the Beasley Gallery Walk and the Art Rescue station, where student and faculty work was available to be taken to their new forever homes.
Lower School Art Teacher Sarah Garner said, “It is always so beautiful to watch the students fill up with pride sharing their art with their families. One student grabbed me by the hand and whisked me away to show me their art (as if I had never seen it before), and the magic was there in the eyes of the artist. We are creating opportunities for our MICDS students to become lifelong artists, creators, performers, makers, and musicians and build their love for the arts.”
Leading up to Arts Fest, students, faculty, and staff in all divisions were invited to participate in special dress-up days, including “Dress like your favorite artist” and “PJ Palette Day.”
Immense gratitude is owed to Dr. Jo Nardolillo, JK-12 Arts Department Chair, Dr. Sally Maxwell, and the entire Arts Department for pulling off this fabulous Arts Fest and Spirit Week for all! The following groups also contributed to the magic behind this event: FLIK Independent School Dining, the Parents Association Arts Boosters, and the MICDS Grounds, Housekeeping, Maintenance, Marketing & Communications, Security, and Technology Departments. Also, this event would not be possible without the tremendous planning and coordination work of Sarah Keen, Associate Director for Events, and Beth Miller, Chief Financial and Operating Officer. Thank you, all, for making this event possible!
As Upper School Arts Teacher Brooke Williams articulated so well, “It was fun to see so many smiling faces celebrating the many talents here at MICDS. Arts Fest just keeps getting better and better.”
Way to create, Rams!