Visual Arts - Garrison Forest School, Inc.
Source: http://www.gfs.org/arts/visual-arts
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:21
Visual Arts - Garrison Forest School, Inc.
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Visual Arts
Our program ignites the creative spark within each student, emphasizing the value of the creative process, and celebrating each students' artistic achievements.
Fundamental to the human experience, the Visual Arts give expression and meaning to what is seen, felt, learned, imagined, as well as what is unseen, unfamiliar, and unknown.
Each year, we celebrate our artists of every age with the all-school ArtWalk! Work is displayed in every division, with an art market in the Middle School and an art scavenger hunt in the Lower School.
Upper School
Middle School
Lower School
Preschool
Upper School students begin with a foundation course—2D Design, 3D Design, or Digital Design—before exploring electives such as drawing, painting, metalworking, woodworking, photography (digital and darkroom), fibers, garment design, and art history. Advanced students may pursue Honors Art Portfolio in various disciplines. Beyond the classroom, students deepen their engagement through exhibitions, guest artists, museum visits, and Independent Senior Projects.
Middle School students build skills in 2-D and 3-D media—including drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture—while deepening their understanding of design principles. As they progress from 6th through 8th Grade, students grow in creativity, technique, and personal expression. Optional electives offer opportunities to explore specific concepts and processes in greater depth.
In weekly Art classes, Kindergarten through 5th Grade students explore creative expression in a spacious studio equipped with a kiln. The curriculum emphasizes the elements of art and appreciation for diverse cultures through hands-on projects in sculpture, collage, painting, textiles, ceramics, woodworking, and more. Student work fills the halls and connects with interdisciplinary learning across all grades.
During each school day, students have ample opportunity to paint, draw, and create crafts that tie into the curriculum. In addition, Pre-Kindergarten classes have art experiences in the Lower School art studio once a week to explore new materials, processes, and to be introduced to important studio habits.
Gateway Scholars: Visual Art and Design
The Gateway Scholars Program provides unique opportunities for Upper School students with a special interest in Global Citizenship, STEM or Visual Art and Design to craft a distinct curricular and co-curricular path. Supported by a network of on- and off-campus mentors, each Gateway Scholar creates an immersive learning program designed to challenge them, enrich their experience, deepen their understanding and document their process of discovery.
Students on the Visual Art and Design track complete specific electives, submit their artwork to shows or competitions, participate in arts-centered field trips, interview or shadow arts professionals and join arts-related clubs or extracurricular offerings. Their experience culminates with a robust e-portfolio exploring different aspects of their work and their GSP journey.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GATEWAY SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Explore the Arts
From creative movement to concert performances, dance at GFS inspires expression, discipline, and joy.
From first notes to advanced ensembles, music at Garrison Forest fosters skill, creativity, and community at every grade level.
On stage or behind the scenes, theater at GFS sparks creativity, confidence, and collaboration.
Skip To Main Content
Visual Arts
Our program ignites the creative spark within each student, emphasizing the value of the creative process, and celebrating each students' artistic achievements.
Fundamental to the human experience, the Visual Arts give expression and meaning to what is seen, felt, learned, imagined, as well as what is unseen, unfamiliar, and unknown.
Each year, we celebrate our artists of every age with the all-school ArtWalk! Work is displayed in every division, with an art market in the Middle School and an art scavenger hunt in the Lower School.
Upper School
Middle School
Lower School
Preschool
Upper School students begin with a foundation course—2D Design, 3D Design, or Digital Design—before exploring electives such as drawing, painting, metalworking, woodworking, photography (digital and darkroom), fibers, garment design, and art history. Advanced students may pursue Honors Art Portfolio in various disciplines. Beyond the classroom, students deepen their engagement through exhibitions, guest artists, museum visits, and Independent Senior Projects.
Middle School students build skills in 2-D and 3-D media—including drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture—while deepening their understanding of design principles. As they progress from 6th through 8th Grade, students grow in creativity, technique, and personal expression. Optional electives offer opportunities to explore specific concepts and processes in greater depth.
In weekly Art classes, Kindergarten through 5th Grade students explore creative expression in a spacious studio equipped with a kiln. The curriculum emphasizes the elements of art and appreciation for diverse cultures through hands-on projects in sculpture, collage, painting, textiles, ceramics, woodworking, and more. Student work fills the halls and connects with interdisciplinary learning across all grades.
During each school day, students have ample opportunity to paint, draw, and create crafts that tie into the curriculum. In addition, Pre-Kindergarten classes have art experiences in the Lower School art studio once a week to explore new materials, processes, and to be introduced to important studio habits.
Gateway Scholars: Visual Art and Design
The Gateway Scholars Program provides unique opportunities for Upper School students with a special interest in Global Citizenship, STEM or Visual Art and Design to craft a distinct curricular and co-curricular path. Supported by a network of on- and off-campus mentors, each Gateway Scholar creates an immersive learning program designed to challenge them, enrich their experience, deepen their understanding and document their process of discovery.
Students on the Visual Art and Design track complete specific electives, submit their artwork to shows or competitions, participate in arts-centered field trips, interview or shadow arts professionals and join arts-related clubs or extracurricular offerings. Their experience culminates with a robust e-portfolio exploring different aspects of their work and their GSP journey.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE GATEWAY SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Explore the Arts
From creative movement to concert performances, dance at GFS inspires expression, discipline, and joy.
From first notes to advanced ensembles, music at Garrison Forest fosters skill, creativity, and community at every grade level.
On stage or behind the scenes, theater at GFS sparks creativity, confidence, and collaboration.