Art

Fine Art recognizes and fosters the talents of our students. It engages them spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and physically and contributes to the complete development of every child.

The Art program at the School of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity offers semi-weekly classes from grades Kindergarten through 8th grade in a variety of mediums and instructional techniques in the Visual Arts. Drawing, painting, digital art, sculpture, and collage are explored as it is experienced in culture, history and our faith. Learning to draw and think creatively helps each of these students to prepare for their future. The students explore Art through the Elements and Principles of Art and Design. Each year in May, the Spring Art Exhibit and reception showcase the enormous body of work the students have created throughout the school year. Additionally, in April, the artwork of selected students from the 7th through 8th grades is exhibited at the New Trier Sender School Exhibit.

The School of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity has several invaluable partnerships that allow students the opportunity to work with community programs and businesses–bringing student art into the real world. We are currently in an Art Partnership with Misericordia Heart of Mercy’s Artists in Residence Program and New Trier High School. In the past, we have worked with the Illinois Art Educator’s Association, Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College. We have collaborated with local businesses to create store window displays–enhancing students understanding of the visual arts.

Misericordia Heart of Mercy’s Art Program

In its fourteenth year, the School of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity is extremely pleased to collaborate with Misericordia Heart of Mercy’s Art Program. Misericordia is home to over 600 children and adults from diverse racial, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. It is a community of care that maximizes the potential for persons with mild to profound developmental disabilities, many of whom are also physically challenged. Our art collaboration has provided reflection, cultural enrichment and most importantly new friendships and relationships for all involved.

Misericordia’s art program enables residents to work with different textures, forms and cultural art. The residents spend the year just like our students learning about art history and different types of art. The program has been in existence for a long time and each year the art becomes more and more sophisticated. Their work is then displayed all over Chicago, auctioned off each year at the Art Institute of Chicago, and sold in their very own gift shops around

the community. We are pleased that many of our collaborative art projects created by Misericordia residents and FHC students hang in our school halls.

Each year the students and residents explore the artwork of many famous artists, such as Andy Warhol, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe, and others.

Beginning in February, our team will work with Misericordia residents four mornings at Misericordia. Ms. Kristine Monhollon, a Misericordia Art Educator and Mrs. Joanne Bennett, FHC Art Educator, will lead the group in a collaborative art project featuring the artist, Henri Matisse. Students and residents will learn about artists who have embraced their disabilities and different abilities to create magnificent and inspiring work. At the end of the program, Misericordia residents will join the entire student body for Mass to present the masterpiece and share in a discussion of what was learned.