Arts
Visual Arts
Lower School
Every grade in our Lower School enjoys art as a yearlong course. Through studio practice, students learn about the language and history of art and gain an appreciation for creating and understanding visual art. Throughout the Lower School years, students focus on the elements and principles of art, and they learn about artists, styles, and mediums.
Cross-collaboration among the arts and other classes supports the progression of visual literacy, aesthetic sensitivity, and problem-solving at each grade level. This collaborative approach provides students with a wide range of skill development, self-expression, effective communication, and discovery and joy inherent in the creative process.
Cross-collaboration among the arts and other classes supports the progression of visual literacy, aesthetic sensitivity, and problem-solving at each grade level. This collaborative approach provides students with a wide range of skill development, self-expression, effective communication, and discovery and joy inherent in the creative process.
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Middle School
Studio Art
Studio art engages the natural curiosity, creativity and energy of our Middle School students, as it helps them develop an understanding of design principles and expand their knowledge of the visual arts. As students refine their own work, they increasingly evaluate and synthesize multiple approaches, rather than seeking a single solution. This mindset helps students develop into critical thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Students in grades five and six take one semester of studio art each year; students in grades seven and eight choose from among electives in the fine and performing arts each semester.
Woodworking
Moving from drawings to three-dimensional objects, woodworking draws on students' creativity, math skills and spatial understanding. The course begins with instruction in workshop safety, the elements of woodworking and an introduction to the history of the craft. From there, students begin to discover how a variety of materials can be used in different ways and the application of mathematics in successful woodworking. Students in grades five and six take one semester of woodworking each year; students in grades seven and eight choose from among electives in the fine and performing arts each semester.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
A seventh-grade elective, CAD brings together work in design, mathematics and technology. Students learn to design objects and models with specific software programs. Using 3-D printers, surface devices, green-screens and other tools in the Makerspace, students create three-dimensional objects from their designs.
Sculpture & Ceramics
An elective in grades seven and eight, sculpture and ceramics introduces students to the unique challenges of creating and designing in three-dimensions. This hands-on class teaches different sculptural techniques, including carving, papier-mâché, wire and assemblage. Ceramics teaches various hand-building techniques, including coiling, slab building and modeling. In addition, students explore the history of these arts forms.
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Upper School
A wide variety of two- and three-dimensional art courses are offered in the Upper School Fine Arts program, including Studio Art, Drawing, Painting, Portfolio Development, AP 2D design, Photography, Graphic Design, Woodworking, Sculpture, and Ceramics. Constructive criticism is an integral part of classroom discussion and helps each artist more fully realize his or her creative potential. All aspects of creating art, from generating ideas to the technical process, are included in instruction and practice. References to art history and contemporary art are integrated into every course.
Students have several opportunities throughout the year to show their work in a gallery setting to the school and community. Each year, the fine arts faculty in grades K-12 sponsor a winter and spring art exhibition for student work and host opening receptions. In addition, student work is submitted to several juried and non-juried art competitions and exhibitions throughout the year.
Students have several opportunities throughout the year to show their work in a gallery setting to the school and community. Each year, the fine arts faculty in grades K-12 sponsor a winter and spring art exhibition for student work and host opening receptions. In addition, student work is submitted to several juried and non-juried art competitions and exhibitions throughout the year.
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Art Exhibitions
Students have several opportunities throughout the year to show their work to the school and community in a gallery setting. Each year, the fine arts faculty in grades K–12 curates a winter and a spring art exhibition and hosts opening receptions for staff, faculty and friends to come together and celebrate the work of our art students. In addition, student work is submitted to several juried and non-juried art competitions and exhibitions throughout the year.
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Winter Art Exhibition
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Visual Arts Chair
Sarah Isusi chairs the fine arts department at GSB. She is in her fourth year at Gill and teaches Upper School Studio Art, Drawing and Painting, Portfolio Development and AP 2D Design. Isusi holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Painting and a Master’s of Art in Teaching from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a Master’s of Fine Art in Painting from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Prior to coming to Gill, she taught International Baccalaureate Art and Design to Upper School students in Baltimore and later developed the Fine Arts program for a Charter School for Performing and Fine Arts in Philadelphia. She is an active member of the N.J. Art Education Association, as well as the Center for Contemporary Art in Bernardsville and the Print Center of N.J., where she shows her work annually.
Meet the Team
List of 5 members.
Gill St. Bernard's School
Gill St. Bernard’s is a private, coeducational day school for students age three through grade 12, located in suburban New Jersey. Each of the three school divisions provides a vigorous, meaningful and age-appropriate curriculum, and all students benefit from the environmental learning opportunities that exist on our 208-acre campus.