Hawthorn Art Night

On Wednesday, November 30th, Hawthorn parents and friends gathered in the main hall for Hawthorn's first Art Night. Mr. Joe Cardenas, longtime AP Art teacher at the Heights School in Maryland gave a stimulating presentation on the role of beauty in the education of young people. He chose a handful from dozens of classic artworks that line the school's halls and spoke to various aesthetic and historical details for an engrossed audience. The Bayeux Tapestry, The School of Athens, Starry Night, The Prodigal Son, and Crossing the Delaware were a few of the beautiful paintings that formed the substance of his talk. "A school's atmosphere should encourage high ideals and a noble vision of life, and beautiful surroundings encourage and inspire each person who comes under their influence," Joe commented. At the conclusion of his remarks, attendees strolled the halls to examine their favorite paintings while enjoying refreshments and lively conversation. As one visitor remarked, "I love the pictures...they give so much beauty to the atmosphere of the school, and the students learn so much from them."