Celebrating Exeter in Art
October 22, 2009
Tom Hassan and Jeremy Plante '10, whose photograph was chosen to hang in the principal's office
When Principal Tom Hassan started to think about decorating his office this summer, the thought of art came to mind.
“I wanted to celebrate my 2 predecessors with whom I worked directly – Principals Ty Tingley and Kendra Stearns O’Donnell,” explains Principal Hassan. “And I wanted to salute student artwork.”
Over the summer, Principal Hassan looked at art portfolios. He chose a photograph of flying birds by Tingley and an O’Donnell painting of two women relaxing in armchairs.
Once the term started, Principal Hassan turned to Exeter’s Art Department for a student’s artwork. Enter Jeremy Plante ’10, a new Exonian taking Photography I this fall. Art Instructor Steve Lewis recommended a large digital photograph of a leaf taken by Plante early in the term. “I chose that particular image because it’s a pretty cool statement about nature without being hokey or typical,” explains Lewis. “It’s sort of Zen-like in its simplicity and exact placement of the leaf.”
Plante, who volunteers that he hasn’t taken many art classes before, gives a big smile when he describes how he captured the photo. “I was walking to a football game, saw the leaf and took the shot,” he said. In fact, the photograph that now holds pride of place above Principal Hassan’s chair is the first picture Jeremy took in his photography class.
And what of the large portrait of John Phillips which has hung in the principal’s office for decades, looking across the room at the principal’s desk? “John Phillips will stay,” explains Principal Hassan. “He’s been there a long time.”
For the rest of fall term, John Phillips - sporting a slight smile - will contemplate a leaf photographed by an Exonian more than 200 years after his founding of the Academy.
The art celebration will continue. Each term the student artwork will rotate in Principal Hassan’s office, with Art Department members nominating works from their current classes.
Interested in learning more?
Check out Exeter’s Art Department offerings…
Learn more about John Phillips…
