Student Life
Arts

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts Department at St. Margaret’s believes the arts are of central importance to the education of the whole student. At the core of the St. Margaret’s art experience is developing one’s personal passions. In a studio art environment, students are given choice and agency while partnering with experienced arts educators. 

As students develop the tools to express themselves, they often find that they are also on a journey of self-discovery. No matter what path students take, whether looking to shape and influence their world or to simply have a place to decompress, it is our hope that everyone has a space they can call their own to figure out what matters most to them.  
 
The Visual Arts faculty’s philosophy is to make everyone feel they are meant to be here and do this creative work together. We feel creating spaces that make students feel supported and remind them why wonder, exploration, and creative thought matter, not only nurtures students but also creates more engagement, thoughtful conversations, and perhaps more meaningful artwork. We hope students' creative acts are seen on a daily basis in a way that self-expression becomes part of a balanced and well-lived life. 
 
Student artwork is on display throughout the campus year-round. Visual Arts exhibitions include the Fall Art Show, the annual K-12 Student Art Show showcasing more than 200 pieces of student work, the Scholastic online exhibit, and the Senior AP Art Pop-Up Show. 
 
St. Margaret's visual art students regularly participate in the OC Art of the Year contest, the National K-12 Ceramics Exhibition, the Scholastic Art and Writing contest, and Young Arts. Students also engage with professional artists as part of an artist-in-residence program and go on art trips to gain real-world experience.

List of 4 items.

  • Lower School

    Students in the Lower School experience Visual Art, one day a week, with the Lower School art teacher.
     
    Extra projects and after-school programs are available.

  • Middle School

    St. Margaret's offers Visual Art classes for all grades 6 and 7 students.
     
    Visual Art 3-D and Visual Art 2-D are offered as electives for grade 8.
     
    St. Margaret's Middle School produces an annual Yearbook.

  • Preschool

    The Visual Arts program in Preschool emphasizes creativity and exploration with an introduction to paint, collage, clay and 3-D construction. Creative exploration of materials is available in the dedicated Preschool Art Room each day and staffed by a full-time art teacher. Open-ended art activities are offered daily in the classrooms.

  • Upper School

    • Clay Hand Building
    • Advanced Clay
    • Intermediate Clay
    • Photography
    • Advanced Photography
    • AP Photography
    • Studio Art I
    • Studio Art II
    • Studio Art III
    • Studio Art IV
    • Film as Art: The History and Appreciation of American Cinema
    • (1 year elective course for Upper School students)
    • Filmmaking
    • AP Art History
    • AP Studio Art (2D-Design)
    • AP Studio Art (3D-Design)
    • AP Studio Art (Drawing)

Visual Arts Faculty

List of 5 members.

  • Jesse W Standlea 

    US & MS Visual Arts; Department Chair

  • Karen Bennett 

    Film & Media

  • Heather Holmes 

    US Visual Arts Studio Teacher

  • Joseph Hoff 

    Digital Photography

  • Mary Mayer-Grubb 

    K-5 Visual Arts Teacher
An independent preschool through grade 12 college-preparatory day school in Orange County, California
NON DISCRIMINATION POLICY
St. Margaret's Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, hiring and athletic policies or in other school-administered programs.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
31641 La Novia Avenue
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
949.661.0108
 
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