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Look to This Day (and the year ahead)… Through Art

By Lindsay Parker
There’s nothing more wonderful (or creatively stimulating) than the start of a new school year – excited students, fresh supplies, and of course… blank bulletin boards in John Dye Hall just waiting to host an array of original artwork!
At the end of each summer, just before our return to campus, the Visual Arts Department brainstorms about an introductory project for the year ahead. Our goal is to build a sense of excitement, curiosity, and community through a collaborative project completed by all JTD artists in grades K-6. Sometimes this goal is achieved by focusing on a single element of art, occasionally everyone comes together through individual interpretation of a shared theme, and at times the unit is a product of introducing and highlighting the work of a certain artist.

The project we landed on this year was born out of the inspiration we felt after learning about the life and work of painter, sculptor, and performance artist, Jeffrey Gibson. In 2024, Gibson represented the U.S. in the Venice Biennale and is the first indigenous artist to do so with a full, solo pavilion show. We were moved by his story and work and, as Art Teachers, felt it important that our students have the chance to learn about him too.

Guided by Gibson's bold use of color and geometric shapes, JTD artists created bright background tiles from watercolor and oil pastel. Drawing on his use of block text, elusively placed within his works, students collaged individual letters that have been strategically added to each composition to form the words of "The Salutation of the Dawn."

The final display is a vibrant celebration of a text near and dear to each member of the JTD community and a colorful reminder of how we, as greyhounds, aim to greet and approach each day. The full work is currently on view in John Dye Hall, and we invite you to visit and enjoy it in-person for yourself!

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The John Thomas Dye School


11414 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (310) 476-2811
The John Thomas Dye School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

Located In Los Angeles, CA, John Thomas Dye is an independent school for grades K-6. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.