Taking Art Education Beyond the Classroom

The youngest gallerina in the Connecticut countryside is Ellie Wolgemuth, a sophomore at Housatonic Valley Regional High School who is heading the public school’s library art installation as lead intern. Having already conquered hanging and curating the school’s annual Blue and Gold student exhibition, Wolgemuth, who is taking on a position typically held by a senior, has spent the fall preparing her first show of work by a professional artist. Through the efforts of Wolgemuth’s team of interns and art teacher Warren Prindle, HVRHS will showcase a series of watercolors, pastels and digital prints by Brooklyn, N.Y., and Lakeville, Conn., based artist Sarah Davis.

“We had a lot of work to choose from, and we scaled it down and chose these pieces because we really liked the color and detail in them,” Wolgemuth told me as she walked me through this exhibit featured in the Kearcher-Monsell Gallery in the school’s library. Moving from dawn into dusk, spring into winter, Davis’ pastels and watercolor landscapes smoothly transition through passing time along the front wall of the gallery. The work will be on view to the public at the opening, while also providing the students with a view of contemporary art by a working, local painter. Securing the vacant role of lead intern early, Wolgeguth told me she plans to continue working on the school’s gallery shows through her senior year, with responsibilities that include helping to select the art with her team, wiring frames, arranging and hanging the show, planning the opening event, managing sale inquiries — and yes, acting as media liaison.

“I’m interested in being an artist myself, and this project has helped me really understand what goes into putting on and hanging a show, so I’ve learned a lot through this process,” Wolemuth told me. “I think the action of coming to a gallery and seeing art in person is really important. “

Sarah Davis’ work at Housatonic Valley Regional High School’s Kearcher-Monsell Gallery will open for the public on Dec. 15 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. with a portion of the sales donated to the school’s Fine Arts Department.