Bright Knights
MARY HELEN KENNEDY '18
An Eye for Design
Mary Helen Kennedy has always been interested in art, but through EHS's robust Arts Pillar she's learned that she also likes design. "I never really thought my artistic abilities would translate into a career, but through knowledge and encouragement I found I was interested in architecture," she says, and now she's looking to further her study of architecture in college. What she appreciates most about Episcopal is how the school is such a tight‑knit community, with each of the Four Pillars working in sync to develop the whole person. "A lot of times in math I've looked at proportions, how the eye moves, and I try to figure out how that relates to what I'm learning in physics or biology," says Kennedy. "Even learning about history can help my research in art projects. This school really lends itself to relating my different classes together." The faculty and structure of the arts program have made Kennedy the artist she is today. Arts teacher Sharon Wilcutts has been an inspiration to her during her four years at EHS and helped broaden her artistic interests. "We did a project together called 'Color Theory Matching' that really interested me. Mrs. Willcutts is good at encouraging me to keep exploring new things." Kennedy appreciates how Episcopal weaves arts electives into the schedule and makes creativity a priority. "We have so many opportunities within the Arts Pillar. We're encouraged to take a class every semester, not just once in four years," she explains. "The variety of options, not to mention after‑school opportunities and workshops, allows you to explore many areas. Even if you're not in a class, you're always welcome in the Art Wing of the Convent." The turning point for her, where art became not just a hobby or a pastime but something she would explore the rest of her life, was a project called "Grief and Relief." "I was working with more design in painting. That was the moment where I solidified my interest in design. It wasn't so much the actual painting but the experience that led to it. Although it was a simple piece with bubbles and cloth, I was working with shapes and placement and contrast, incorporating all these concepts that I'd never used before," she explains. "The prompt was about the Seven Deadly Sins. I made it relatable to my life at that time—stress—and ended up winning a citywide competition." The EHS arts program focuses a lot on the creative process, and Kennedy has not only improved her artistic skills but also the ability to take risks and problem solve. "We've worked on projects that are challenging and call us to do more than what's expected in a typical art class. These courses incorporate the students' ideas, not just, 'I'll show you what to do, now do it,' but 'we'll figure out which process to take, and how we are going to formulate that together.'" —Emma Tsai
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