dreyfoos school of the arts - News - The Coastal Star2024-03-29T01:11:14Zhttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/dreyfoos+school+of+the+artsTots & Teens: Art is in blood of Dreyfoos graduate, who plots future on canvashttps://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/tots-teens-art-is-in-blood-of-dreyfoos-graduate-who-plots-future-2023-08-01T15:30:58.000Z2023-08-01T15:30:58.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12175298867,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12175298867,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="12175298867?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>Kerry Sullivan’s Halloween drawing ‘Smile’ was honored with a national gold medal in competition. <strong>Artwork provided</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>By Faran Fagen</strong></p>
<p>In elementary school, Kerry Sullivan thought hard about which crayons to use to illustrate the features of her many “My Little Pony” characters. Each page of computer paper represented a canvas of possibilities.<br /> <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12175299278,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12175299278,RESIZE_180x180{{/staticFileLink}}" width="101" alt="12175299278?profile=RESIZE_180x180" /></a></p>
<p>Now at 18 years old and with accolades accumulating, the Hypoluxo Island resident and graduate of Dreyfoos School of the Arts is attending the Rhode Island School of Design painting visual arts degree program.</p>
<p>“I hope to develop my technical art-making skills as well as my conceptual art-making skills,” Sullivan said. “I’m very dedicated to my craft and willing to spend hours upon hours perfecting it and learning as much as I can. A career path in the visual arts is something that has become clearer and clearer to me over the past couple of years.”</p>
<p>In 2023, Sullivan won the Palm Beach and Martin counties Pathfinder first-place award for visual arts and became a National Society of Arts and Letters finalist for painting. She also attended the RISD pre-college program.</p>
<p>Ever since the seventh grade, Sullivan has entered her artwork into various competitions and gallery openings. She was awarded “best in show” at the Broward Art Guild in 2017 and 2018 and started seeing her work showcased in gallery settings.</p>
<p>Around the same time, she began entering her artwork in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition and has received 48 regional accolades through this program.<br /> After her “My Little Pony” drawings, Sullivan realized that “the process of creating art was deeply fulfilling for me, as I was able to focus on an idea and try to visually depict it on paper.”</p>
<p>She would gaze at the fashion magazines belonging to her mother, Kathy, and would think to herself, “I want to draw this, and I want to make it look real.” She’d spend hours studying an image and trying to replicate it on paper.</p>
<p>Throughout elementary school, she had an art teacher, Denise Calderaro, who introduced different types of paint that was water soluble and nontoxic. Starting in the fifth grade, she provided a variety of acrylic paints and nicer brushes, which really made Sullivan fall in love with the medium.</p>
<p>“From that point on, I was making regular trips back and forth from Michaels craft store to buy my own acrylic paints and to further develop this newfound passion for painting,” Sullivan said.</p>
<p>Her biggest obstacle in high school was the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. She attended school online for sophomore year.</p>
<p>But Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts gave Sullivan a space to create her work surrounded by the materials and resources she needed. She created the drawing Smile to be submitted for a Halloween assignment. She hoped to express how scary things were during the pandemic and show the frustrations and anxiety people were feeling. She used herself as the model since classes were still being held remotely.</p>
<p>“I aimed to just create something scary, but as I continued the piece, I was reminded of why I started drawing in the first place,” Sullivan said. “I felt a great deal of satisfaction when I was able to transfer my ideas onto paper and depict them realistically and visually.”</p>
<p>At the start of 2021, the piece won a Scholastic Art and Writing Awards gold key for this region and a national gold medal.</p>
<p>Toward the end of her senior year at Dreyfoos, Sullivan was awarded the Elayne and Marvin Mordes Scholarship, as well as the Constance Rudy painting award by the school’s foundation.</p>
<p>Her parents, Kathy and Robert, and brothers, Kevin and Harris, are huge supporters.</p>
<p>“The most important thing was figuring out the path to meet her goal which included Bak Middle School and Dreyfoos School of the Arts,” her mother said. “Pursuing that path of an education in visual arts plus her persistence through the COVID years was very important.”</p>
<p>In college, Kerry hopes to gain a new perspective on creating, viewing and understanding different works.</p>
<p>“I want to be able to explore the art world with a more creative lens, as well as incorporate that same creativity into everything I do,” she said. “Wherever I end up, I will be happy to pursue a career in the arts.” </p></div>Celebrations: ‘The Main Event’ After Party Private home, Palm Beach — Feb. 22https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/celebrations-the-main-event-after-party-private-home-palm-beach-f2023-05-02T18:20:23.000Z2023-05-02T18:20:23.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11062472854,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11062472854,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="11062472854?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>The Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation celebrated turning 30 years old during a magical evening featuring student and alumni performances. Gillian Fuller served as hostess, welcoming supporters of the annual gala, which took place in January to a sold-out crowd. They enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres while listening to jazz, strings and other music under the stars. ABOVE: Trish Savides and Guido Christiano. </em><br /><em>BELOW: Jo Anne Moeller and Michael Whelchel. <strong>Photos provided by Capehart</strong></em></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11062473074,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11062473074,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="11062473074?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></p></div>Celebrations: ‘The Main Event’ Kravis Center, West Palm Beach — Jan. 27https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/celebrations-the-main-event-kravis-center-west-palm-beach-jan-272023-03-28T18:20:10.000Z2023-03-28T18:20:10.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11004872679,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11004872679,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="11004872679?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>The Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation celebrated 30 years of excellence during a musical night of performances by students and alumni. Proceeds will benefit the foundation, which provides more than $1.5 million in support to the school each year. </em><br /><em>ABOVE: (l-r) Linda Silpe, Don Silpe and Dorothy Lappin.</em><br /><em>BELOW: Gil Cohen with event Chairwoman Lisa Marie Conte Browne. </em><br /><strong><em>Photos provided by Capehart</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><strong><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}11004872300,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}11004872300,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="11004872300?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a></em></strong></p></div>Celebrations: Prism; Kravis Center, West Palm Beach — Dec. 6https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/celebrations-prism-kravis-center-west-palm-beach-dec-62023-01-03T19:45:28.000Z2023-01-03T19:45:28.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><em><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10924345857,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10924345857,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10924345857?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10924345682,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10924345682,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="400" alt="10924345682?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></a>The Dreyfoos School of the Arts staged its ninth-annual extravaganza, featuring more than 400 young musicians performing holiday classics. The 90-minute, sold-out show highlighted band, piano, orchestra and vocal students. Underwritten by James and Sue Patterson, the concert and its proceeds benefit the school’s music department. </em><br /><em><strong>TOP:</strong> (l-r) Nancy Hart, George Elmore and Marti LaTour. <strong>RIGHT:</strong> Lisa Marie Conte Browne and Ellen Liman. <strong>Photos provided</strong></em></p></div>Celebrations: ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ Kravis Center, West Palm Beach — Feb. 24https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/celebrations-let-the-good-times-roll-kravis-center-west-palm-beac2022-03-29T18:27:47.000Z2022-03-29T18:27:47.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10246907684,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10246907684,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10246907684?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>The Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation honored philanthropists Alex and Renate Dreyfoos at the annual luncheon highlighted by exciting student performances, a high-end silent auction and a lavish gourmet meal. Proceeds benefited the foundation the couple helped start. ‘They have been enhancing the programs at Dreyfoos for decades and have helped thousands of students achieve their dreams by bringing opportunities for students to receive a world-class art education,’ Principal Blake Bennett said of the couple. </em><br /><em>ABOVE: (l-r) Francine Walker, Gil Cohen and Lisa Marie Conte Browne.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10246910055,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10246910055,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10246910055?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><br /><em>Dorothy Lappin and Linda Silpe.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10246910853,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10246910853,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="10246910853?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><br /><em>Don Silpe and Chris Snyder. </em><br /><strong><em>Photos provided by Capehart</em></strong></p></div>Ballet competition Boca Ballet Theatre, Boca Raton — March 20https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/ballet-competition-boca-ballet-theatre-boca-raton-march-202021-06-01T20:15:42.000Z2021-06-01T20:15:42.000ZThe Coastal Starhttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/TheCoastalStar<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9021181496,RESIZE_930x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9021181496,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="710" alt="9021181496?profile=RESIZE_710x" /></a><em>Gabriella (center) with Upbin (left) and NSAL member Marcie Gorman. <strong>Photo provided</strong></em></p>
<p>The National Society of Arts and Letters’ Florida East Coast Chapter showcased the talents of an array of young dancers from South Florida. Judges included Clarence Brooks, Shimon Ito and Colleen Smith. First prize was awarded to Gabriella Garbarini, a 17-year-old student at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, who will advance to the national competition and vie for a $12,000 prize. ‘This is a very challenging competition, judged on three elements including classwork, classical dance and contemporary dance,’ event Co-Chairwoman Shari Upbin said. ‘Gabriella truly excelled in all categories.’ </p></div>Belle Arti Luncheon: Kravis Center, West Palm Beach — March 7https://thecoastalstar.com/profiles/blogs/belle-arti-luncheon-kravis-center-west-palm-beach-march-72019-05-28T23:22:01.000Z2019-05-28T23:22:01.000ZMary Kate Leminghttps://thecoastalstar.com/members/MaryKateLeming769<div><p class="p1" style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7960871683,original{{/staticFileLink}}" target="_blank"><img src="{{#staticFileLink}}7960871683,original{{/staticFileLink}}" class="align-center" alt="7960871683?profile=original" /></a><em>Dreyfoos School of the Arts students dressed in Venetian costumes welcomed more than 180 guests to benefit the Dreyfoos foundation. The Italian theme was carried throughout the event, from the decor to the menu to the performances. A total of $70,000 was raised.</em></p>
<p class="p1" style="text-align:center;"><em><b>ABOVE:</b> Jennifer Myerberg and Lisa Marie Browne. <b>Photo provided by CAPEHART</b></em></p></div>