Student leaders of Musicians of D-E (MODE) hosted an after-school jam session in The Imperatore Library this week, just as Seniors reached their last official day of classes. Mackenzie Hammer ’28 kicked off the live performances, playing the ukulele as she sang Laufey’s “From the Start.” She was followed by Gavin Park ’28 performing Dominic Fike’s “She Wants My Money,” Konner Jiang ’29 on piano, Isabella Morales ’26 serenading the audience with Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” and MODE Faculty Advisor and Upper School History Teacher Ben Fleisher belting out a country-rock song by The Flying Burrito Brothers. Thanks to MODE for the great sounds and good vibes!

Making her mark! The artwork of Ms. Marisol Diaz, Art & Design Chair, was recently spotlighted with other professional artists at a gallery exhibit in Manhattan. “For visual artists, exhibiting in New York City is a career-altering experience,” remarked Ms. Diaz, whose early work was showcased at the former 2/20 Gallery in 2008 and 2009 as well as at the Azucarera Gallery in Harlem throughout 2009 and 2010, including for a show, which Ms. Diaz said, “brought attention to the exploitation of youthful beauty ideals” and for a solo exhibit titled “Bestia Fera/Wild Beast.”  More recently, Ms. Diaz has focused on being an art educator and exhibiting at the Nyack Art Collective in Rockland County, New York, and in the Northern New Jersey area.  In 2016, Ms. Diaz connected with a gallery in Orangeburg, NY, called Volition Art. For one group exhibit, titled “Expressions of Women Rising,” Ms. Diaz said the gallery owner, Phyllis Dodge, “had a vision for a group show of women artists working on the theme of female empowerment,” for which Ms. Diaz participated. Volition reconvened this group a decade later for the aforementioned NYC show at the Dacia Gallery, titled “Continuance.” Ms. Diaz’s artwork for this exhibit—called “Esta Tierra No Se Vende: Invocando al Cemi, Porque las Raíces Fuertes No Se Arrancan,” which translates to “This Land is Not for Sale, Invoking the Cemi, Because Deep Strong Roots Cannot be Entirely Ripped Out”—centers on Indigenous land rights. It’s a mixed-media piece created with rice paper on cut wood panel, watercolor, acrylic, and oil. “Cemis are archaeological objects/sculptures by the Taino Arawak Natives found in the Caribbean, said to be containers for supernatural spirits—hence, my artwork is depicting something akin to letting a deity or genie out of her bottle,” explained Ms. Diaz.  Congratulations to Ms. Diaz on this esteemed accomplishment!

Get ready for the All-School Choral & Drumming Concert! Our Lower, Middle and Upper School choral ensembles will D-Elight audiences when they perform next Tuesday, May 19, at 7 PM in Schenck Auditorium. With enthusiasm and guidance from our Performing Arts Dept. faculty, our students have been rehearsing toe-tapping tunes including “Try Everything” (from Zootopia); “Song of the Earth” (from Frozen); and “Take Me Home Country Roads (John Denver). Our Middle School Drumming Ensembles will also perform pieces guaranteed to get everyone dancing! Free admission and open to D-E families of all ages!