The Live Well, ASL biennial auction took place on March 15, and this year, students were involved in the auction significantly more than previous years.
Among the vast range of items and experiences listed in the silent auction, 13 framed photograph prints, each created by a different student were also up for auction. For the first time since the auction’s inauguration, students donated their photographs from various photography class assignments they have taken throughout high school to raise money for the Parent Community Association (PCA)’s funding.
As the PCA grants benefit students as much as the faculty and parents, the PCA approached the Art Department to encourage students in the Middle School or High School to donate work to the auction. Along with the photographs from the High School students, Middle School students from the Doodle Art and Design class have also donated a group project up for auction.
The students who donated their work to the auction were initially notified about the opportunity through Visual Arts Teacher Robyn Zellar.
Zellar noted that the donations for the auction were entirely voluntary, with no assessment or grading attached to the submission. Through the process, she was encouraged to see students take pride in their work by submitting their pieces.
Similarly, Visual Arts Department Head Luchy Harrold was thrilled that students got the opportunity to contribute to the auction through their art. “It was fantastic to see the students being so enthusiastic about sharing their work,” Harrold said.
The photos submitted were captured by some of the student body’s most developed photographers. For instance, Reuben Ross (’20) submitted a photo taken for an assignment that focused on juxtaposition for his Digital Photography Studio class. Similarly, Emilie Faracci (’20) submitted one of her photographs taken last year for her Portfolio Development class. Faracci’s photo has been seen around school previously, having featured in the 2018 issue of Jambalaya.
Prior to the sale of the photos, there has been “very positive feedback,” Harrold said. “[The Visual Arts Department] had great responses from the parent community.”
Yesterday afternoon, all of the photos put up for auction were sold for prices ranging from £50 to £500, and there are hopes that there will be just as much success in the next auction if photos are submitted again. But until then, the Visual Arts Department will have the opportunity to be involved in other upcoming charitable events.
This April, High School students will also be leading a week-long event, where different forms of visual art – not just photos – will be promoted and put up for sale. The proceeds from the event will go towards raising money for one of the community partnership sites: Doorstep Homeless Families Project.
Students who volunteered to submit their work for the Live Well, ASL auction: Chaznane Fidahoussen (‘19), Josie Levey (‘19), Quinn Whitman (‘19), Emilie Faracci (‘20), Quinn Link (‘20), Yaniv Regev (‘20), Reuben Ross (‘20), Katie Stone (‘20), Bella Valente (‘20), Claire Wiest (‘20), Ludo De Giorgi (‘21), Taylor Lewis (‘21), George Yardley (‘21).
