Visual Arts

Academics

Visual Arts Curriculum

The Visual Arts program has a spiraling curriculum where students explore core principles, at an age appropriate level, that form a thread through all of the arts. As students move through our program they work within themes, hone their skills with increasing sophistication, and revisit key concepts such as composition, color, and light. It is a process-oriented, materials-based curriculum whereby students are encouraged to explore, experiment, and examine an art-making practice as a valuable component in today’s society.

In the Lower School, students explore the physical properties of media and then match their new discoveries to the expressive qualities of the materials. The art studio is a place for students to gain confidence in their individual creative abilities, begin to investigate the visual world around them, and observe their own personal growth as an artist.

Through hands-on art making, as well as discussion, critiques, and journal writing, Middle and Upper School students develop a vocabulary that empowers them to reflect on their own work in the context of art, past and present, while discovering their personal artistic voice.

All stages of the Visual Arts curriculum at Trevor center playful discovery as an essential component in facilitating student growth. Privileging play and experimentation affords students the space to organically discover their artistic interests and sensibilities.

Signature Trevor

Trevor’s Visual Arts Program cultivates a process-oriented environment whereby students are encouraged to explore, experiment, and examine art-making.

Trevor:

List of 6 items.

Materials

Offers a wide range of materials, including those that are outside of the typical studio art class including glass, mosaics, darkroom, film production, and coding.
LS Large Scale work

Lower School students have unique opportunities to create large scale work—both individually and as a group.
MS-US Ceramics

In the Middle & Upper School ceramics studio, Trevor can fire at different temperatures, teach specific hand building techniques, and offer wheel courses.
Senior Ceramics

Senior ceramics students with multiple years of experience have the option to complete a themed independent study, allowing them to build a small body of work.
NYC Art

Emphasizes student awareness of historical and contemporary art from around the world by utilizing the vast museums and galleries of our culturally vibrant city.
LS Exhibitions

Lower School art exhibitions foster an appreciation of multiple art forms and occur in conjunction with music concerts to celebrate the students' artistic voices. Middle and Upper School student work is showcased in an annual art show.

Department Mission Statement

Trevor’s Visual Arts Department cultivates a process-oriented environment whereby students are encouraged to explore, experiment, and examine an art-making practice as a valuable component in today’s society. The program strives to focus on mission consistency in the curriculum and pedagogy of all visual arts classes. Classes are small enough for teachers to address the needs of the individual while groups are large enough that dynamic discussions can take place. Encouraging critique and conversation is an integral part of the supportive dialogue between students. Because of this positive, nurturing environment, students feel comfortable taking risks. Problem solving is key to being engaged actively in the artistic process. Visual arts teachers prompt students to ask questions instead of providing answers. Students learn to give, receive, and incorporate effective feedback as an essential part of the artistic process. Visual Arts teachers bring the world into the classroom by taking advantage of all of the fantastic resources which New York City provides. One of the goals of the Visual Arts department is to foster independence and creativity and enable students to graduate with a clear direction for their interest in art.

Faculty

Trevor’s Visual Arts faculty is filled with highly skilled professional teachers and artists. The department is committed to the idea, as is the case in many colleges and universities, that it is vital for its educators to continue as practicing artists. Working as artists helps teachers understand and foster the creative process in their students and draw out the artistic voice of each individual. The Visual Arts team members are passionate about their media and continuously learn and grow as artists. They cross-pollinate, share spaces, tools, and ideas, and run arts-related professional development groups for the school community.

College Ready

Trevor students interested in pursuing art in college and/or as a career are guided in the preparation of a quality portfolio and are encouraged to concentrate in more than one medium within the choices offered from the visual arts curriculum (including courses that collaborate across disciplines) and to take advantage of independent study opportunities.

Having completed their course of study in the Visual Arts program, Trevor students have a clear idea of their direction and interests in art and are independent in their choices of materials and process. Through their curricular exploration of the creative process students have learned problem solving, time management, and analysis—skills that help them in their continued artistic paths, and throughout their academic careers. Graduates have also developed a deep appreciation for the diverse landscape of visual art, and actively engage with the work of masters, emerging artists, and peers.