Art Around Campus

The Gill Library features works from local artist Djay Chung. 

Djay is an abstract artist who focuses on exploring our world culture through the trials of individuals deemed abandoned by society. He researches situations directly by visiting the subjects of his inspiration for weeks or months at a time, to properly place himself within the atmosphere and to grasp the tone and emotion of the local perspective. His paintings often feature rich colors, dynamic layering, and raw energy. The four artworks on display in the Gill Library are part of a series that he created after returning from Bangladesh and working with Rohingya refugees. 

Djay works out of his studio in Trinity Groves, Dallas. He has a degree in architectural engineering from his home country of South Korea and holds a B.F.A from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston. After moving to the United States and feeling confronted by a dramatic diversity of races, cultures, and creeds, Djay became interested in psychology and exposing himself to the trials and hardships of many, through volunteer work. Seeing the opportunity artwork has to transcend the barriers of language and culture, Jay seeks to illustrate emotion and the ‘real stories,’ as he travels the globe to live with those on the margins of our societal awareness.

“As an abstract painter, I’m most driven to explore the contemporary state of our world, and the diversity of culture, through the trials of those who society and culture reject," Djay said. "This juxtaposition highlights our deep-rooted desire to survive, which is exhibited in the willpower of the individuals I spend time with around the world; people forgotten by nations but who refuse to succumb to the harshness of extreme living environments.”  

These inspiring artworks will be on display until the end of April, and an artist talk date will be posted soon!

The new Local Artist Feature Wall in the Gill Library presents works by Francene Christianson. This feature wall will rotate biannually. 

Francene is a figurative and landscape painter with a background working in advertising and graphic design agencies in both New York and Los Angeles. She is now a full-time painter working out of her studio here in Dallas. Francene was the judge for our MS Private Schools Art Invitation in February of this year.

Francene is giving an Artist Talk this Friday, September 27, 10:10-10:50 a.m. in the Gill Library. Grade 8 Art and Sculpture Students will be in attendance however, the talk is open to all students and faculty so please join us if you can.

“I paint people and places that remind me of special times in my life. While these moments are transitory, painting lets me create a lasting memento of an otherwise passing view.

I look for the universal appeal in everyday moments. To do this, I draw inspiration from old family photos, preserving mid-century images in a modern context. I also look for the story in the places where I live.

It's true that everything is bigger in Texas. When I first moved here, I was floored by the great expanses of this state. In turn, my view of landscape has shifted to include aerial perspectives that attempt to capture the sheer scale of place. At Trinity Groves, I plan to continue exploring this series, while also staying open to new inspirations.”  - Francene Christianson 

‘Wings,’ by The Episcopal School of Dallas Middle School Students. Ink on Paper, 78’ x 95” 2018. Displayed opposite the Eagles Nest in the SBS Wellness Center. 

Last school year, to honor the life of Father Swann, the ESD Middle School students set about creating a piece of art in tribute to him. Each MS student and teacher had the opportunity to create a feather, which collectively made these beautiful wings. 

The installation of these wings was no easy feat! This required the specialists at ‘Signature Millwork’ to create a frame and hanging system that did not impact the wood paneling behind the installation. Signature Millwork is the company responsible for the beautiful wooden paneling throughout the SMS Wellness Center. A special thanks to Jay Michael and Bryan Stuart for their support and involvement with the Art Around Campus Committee to get this artwork preserved and hung in remembrance of our Founding Rector and Headmaster, The Reverend Canon Stephen B. Swann.

‘Vision,’ by Vicky-Forsythe-Smith, class of 2012. Graphite on Paper, 48” x 96”. 
A ‘Purchase Award’ piece, newly displayed in the Gill Library.

Elizabeth Wilson recently got in touch with the artist to let her know that her drawing has been installed in a more prominent place on campus, where it can be appreciated by more students and adults alike. She asked her a few questions about herself and the work, what inspired her to create the drawing, the process, and inspiration for working large scale, how long it took to draw and to tell us a bit about what she’s doing now! The following is what Vicky had to say…

I love to see that a little (well, pretty large) piece of me is still around ESD. Currently, my career has shifted to the digital space. I am an art director at an ad agency, Digitas, in New York with my focus in digital marketing. Basically, I Photoshop in my sleep. After starting my college experience as a fine arts major at the School of Visual Arts I quickly realized design was going to be my lane.

Drawing will always be the fundamental form that any artist must learn before excelling in any other medium. I don’t think that means you need to be great at it, but you do have to learn it. There are so many rules to learn and while they don’t all have to be followed… they are vital in understanding form. SO, drawing is where I started in high school. I always had a knack for realism and Kathleen Raymond, the art teacher at ESD at the time, encouraged me to push further than just leaning on that skill. Every week I could bang out a hyper-realistic drawing, but she was right. Those works started to lose their power when produced in a constant stream. Scale seemed like the obvious way to push these to a new and more exciting form.

Chuck Close was always one of my drawing heroes. This drawing, as well as another full-face one, are my attempts at directly copying what he was doing. The full-face portrait was done first. It is 4ft x 6ft and took about three weeks and 36 4B pencils to complete. Vision (which I don’t remember naming Vision, but I guess that checks out) was done because of a blank wall ESD had at ISAS that was in prime viewing space. Ms. Raymond asked me to make something big, fast. Thus, Vision was conceived and born in about three days. I took a photo of my eyes with my staple high school glasses, created a grid (à la Chuck Close), and drew through most of my classes, every lunch, and stayed late with Ms. Raymond making me tea as I went. I wish I could remember the body count of pencils on Vision… had to be close to 50? Also, I have new staple glasses now.

I cherish that time so much. One quickly learns that there simply is never as much time in the day as in your teens. Art is such a healthy manner of escapism, and I owe so much life-balance in my teens to the sheer amount of hours I spent thinking only about a piece of paper in front of me. Art for the sake of art feels so rare at the current stage of my life. However, I have found that art can just be art when I work with musicians. Working in music is the next step in my journey. I have done a variety of work for musicians including: Dolly Parton, Florence and the Machine, Flume, Pretty Lights, Cashmere Cat, Maggie Rogers, Mattiel, TMWRK, and for the past two years, the creative director for the artist Tanners (we also happen to be dating!) These projects have been album covers, websites, posters, t-shirts, bags, Instagram stories, simply whatever. And it’s all for the sake of art.  

Samples of my current work can be found at my website www.vickyfs.com
 

Next time you visit the library please take a close look at Vicky’s drawing, which is placed near the fireplace. The quality of the work is exceptional.