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The
first Art teacher at St. Pius X was Mary Hutchinson.
She was one of a small number of lay teachers that were hired during
the beginning years of the school's history, and was a member of
the faculty from 1959 to 1967.
In the Fall of 1967, Carol Sutherland joined the faculty.
Her memories of those first days as the art teacher at St. Pius
X show how far we have come as a department. Located in the Freshman
hall, the Visual Arts room was painted grey and had a raised level
at one end, which acted as a podium of sorts for still life arrangements.
With the exception of a stack of magnolia drawings left in a cupboard,
there was virtually no equipment.
During her time at St. Pius X, Carol Sutherland
helped to expand the arts program; installing our first kiln for
pottery classes, and also setting up the Fall Arts Festival which
ran for a week each year. The festival brought together both the
Fine Arts Department and other classes throughout the school in
a celebration of the arts. For example, in 1976, the Home Economics
class sponsored a fashion show and cooking demonstrations and an
appearance by The Vagabond Marionettes.
In 1977 Ms. Mary Howard took over the helm
for a year followed by Patricia Kerner who continued to expand and
enrich the program until 1982. In 1982 Mrs. V. Mackey was the art
teacher. She was followed closely by Ms. Virginia Hayes who also
stayed for a year. In 1984 Mrs. Virginia Ring was hired, and it
was during her year as the art teacher that The Art Association
was formed.
In 1986, Sharon (Devaney) Mueller was hired
She initiated many changes, giving much of her creative energy to
help develop the Visual Arts at St. Pius X. Sharon Mueller started
the Advanced Placement class, and developed a curriculum - based
art program. During her time at St. Pius X, the visiting artist
series was also started, helping to enrich the students' learning
experience. The art room also benefited from the in-put of other
teachers who taught alongside Sharon Mueller on a part-time basis.
Among these were Susan Arenson (a St. PIus X alumni) and Carol Sutherland
who returned to teach for a time.
In 1998 the art room was expanded and many new
features were added, including a larger kiln and beautiful tables
and countertops.
In 2000, Mrs. Corinna Brannon joined the faculty
at St. Pius X and on January 3, 2005 moved the art room into the
new Fine Arts wing!! The Visual Arts classroom has finally joined
the rest of the Fine Arts’ classrooms and is situated in the room
with the large glass windows on the corner of the school. In the
spring of 2005 the Jurored Art Exhibition was held for the first
time. Reknowned artists from the Atlanta community are invited to
judge the work each year. This
has become an annual event at St. Pius that showcases the best of
our students work.
Each teacher has brought their own expertise to bear
in the instruction of the students and have shared their gifts.
It is on their shoulders and those who have so generously given
that the new Fine Arts wing firmly rests.
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