D-E’s Art & Design Department is a program that encompasses all three divisions—the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. It’s an integral part of the school community that falls under the leadership of Art & Design Chair Marisol Diaz, who also runs the Swartley Gallery Series, spotlighting the artwork of D-E alumni, faculty/staff, and students.

During a recent conversation with Ms. Diaz, she described what the department entails and highlighted how the curriculum is interdisciplinary. She pointed to the chemistry involved with glazing ceramics; the geometry that is used to create structure, balance, and visual interest; and the references to environmentalism and literature, from the classics to mythology, that is commonly present in students’ creative work.

“In a world that’s becoming more automated and AI generated, I think that visual art is one of the last strongholds of the human hand and the human soul,” reflected Ms. Diaz. “It’s slow, it’s tactile, it’s imperfect, and that’s exactly what makes it powerful… when students make art, they’re not just creating something, they’re thinking, they’re feeling, and they’re problem-solving.”

This aligns with the school’s mission “to meet the challenges of a changing world and make it better.” AP Studio Art students in the Upper School, for example, are tasked with developing a line of inquiry (LOI), which can shine a light on social and global issues. In addition, these projects support students’ social-emotional learning.

“[Art] helps students to stay connected to themselves and to the world and to do so in a much more meaningful way,” said Ms. Diaz. “And when you’re making, you’re also expressing yourself… the opposite of depression is expression.”

The goal of Art & Design at D-E goes deeper than creating objects, remarked Ms. Diaz. “Art used to be about creating a commodity… artists right now have their finger on the pulse of actually creating change and meaning more than the commodity.”