ARTalks/Visiting Artists
Program Overview
The Visiting Artist Program connects Stevenson students to professional visual artists through gallery exhibits and artist presentations (ARTalks). Created over 20 years ago by Stevenson emeritus faculty member, John DePinto, the Visiting Artist Program aims to feature a range of diverse artists, styles and mediums throughout the school year, providing our students with opportunities to interact with and learn from professional art and artists.
Annually, six artists are selected for the program. Local artists exhibit for 6-7 weeks in Stevenson’s Visiting Artist Gallery. During the course of their exhibition, each artist visits two visual arts classrooms for an ARTalk to discuss their work, concepts and process. The Visiting Artist Program and ARTalks are presented in partnership with the Stevenson Foundation.
Currently Featuring Piyas Bhattacharjee
Stevenson is proud to feature Piyas Bhattacharjee in the 2022-2023 Visiting Artist Series. Ms. Bhattacharjee artwork and textiles will be exhibited in the Visiting Artist Gallery (first floor rotunda, west building) through September 23rd. Learn more about her artwork and teaching at www.paisleyartsfabrics.com/
Piyas Bhattacharjee is an practioner and teacher of Kalamkari, a 3000 year old traditional Indian art on textiles, and Batik, a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to the whole cloth. Artistically trained at the School of Art Institute, Chicago, Ms. Bhattacharje is a firm believer that art and science are not mutually exclusive, as she also holds an MS in Computer Science, with a minor in Math. Over the last four years, she has taught over 300 students at her school, Paisley Academy Arts & Fabrics. The artworks of Ms. Bhattacharjee and her students have been featured in many events and collaborations, including at the Indian Consulate Chicago. She is currently experimenting with handwoven materials and natural dyes and collaborating with artisans in India to create fabrics. She hopes to keep her traditions alive through art.
More Information
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All 2020-21 Digital Exhibitions and ARTalks are available to view on the SHS Fine Arts YouTube channel.
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Please send questions and artist submissions to Fine Arts Coordinator Amanda Peterlin at apeterlin@d125.org.