H-B Woodlawn Seniors: Dreams and Nightmares

Jenkins Community Gallery

Organized by instructor Faylinda Kodis, Dreams and Nightmares presents work by eight senior students from H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program who have studied visual art throughout their high school careers. Some will continue studying art next year and some will concentrate on other pursuits, but all will carry with them the shared experience of art making and learning at H-B Woodlawn.

The H-B Woodlawn Program was founded in 1971 based on a proposal from teachers and students to provide a more individualized, caring environment for students. Students at HBW are trusted to make responsible choices. H-B’s philosophy is based on the Latin phrase Verbum Sap Sat which means “a word to the wise is sufficient”. Students participate in HBW’s governing body called Town Meeting, are members of staff hiring committees, create their class schedules, and select an advisor.

This year, in preparation for the Advanced Placement Studio Art exam, the student artists have been working on a variety of individual themes in their personal portfolios. But, for this exhibition, they decided to share a theme to unify the look and experience of the exhibition.  The theme of Dreams and Nightmares surfaced because it was apparent that several students were addressing this topic already and everyone agreed that it was an interesting, accessible, and flexible theme. The group discussed the John Lennon quote, I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So, I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now? The students used the musician’s words as inspiration for their discussions and work.

Dreams and Nightmares Artists:
Elizabeth Brown, Grace Chen, Ethan Edds, Khulan Erdenedalai, Isabel Fayer, Grace Lynch, Natalie Moreno, and Izze Sheppard