Faculty Art Show Highlights Diversity of NMH Visual Arts Teachers

“Drawing is not what one sees, but what one can make others see.” - Edgar Degas

On Feb. 7, the visual arts department will host its annual faculty art show in The Gallery at the Rhodes Arts Center. The exhibit features original work from NMH teachers Steve Allison, YeJin Han, Charley Neisner, Bill Roberts, Jamie Rourke, and Mona Seno, ranging from photography to oil paintings, ceramics, and other media. 

Each piece highlights the artist’s unique talents and vision, offering students tangible examples of what faculty try to illustrate in class, said Rourke, who serves as gallery coordinator in addition to teaching.

“Seeing our own individual artwork can inform them a little more about who we are and maybe why we teach the way that we do,” he said. By displaying their personal work, faculty members also hope to dispel the aura of exclusivity that too often surrounds the art world.

“There's always been this myth around art-making that either you're talented or you're not,” said Rourke. “I think what the students see when they look at our work is that we're practicing: We're moving ideas forward, trying to be innovative, and keeping that passion for our own art-making alive.”

Seno compared the process of preparing for the exhibit to doing research or publishing a paper in other academic disciplines.

“I enjoy learning a new technique or process during the summer and then applying it in the work I make for the faculty art show in the winter,” said Seno, who serves as chair of the Visual Arts Department. “It’s humbling because, as is often the case when learning a new skill or trying a new approach, I experience many failures in the process of making the work.”

Roberts, now in his 24th year teaching at NMH, said his goal, in the classroom and the exhibit, is for students to focus on observational drawing and painting.

“I enjoy bringing my experience as a painter into the classroom – I do a lot of demos; I'll work right alongside them,” he said. “There's such an amazing world out there. I want them to slow down and take the time to look at it.”

In addition to giving the community a chance to see the visual arts faculty outside of their “9 to 5,” the faculty art show helps expand students’ understanding of what drives an artistic creation, said Han.

“I want students to understand that for many of us, being an artist is more than just making art,” she said. “I believe that the process is much more valuable than the final result. You can learn a lot about a person by looking at their work.”

It’s a message that resonates with Joelle Yang ’27. “Visual arts enable me to bring a part of my voice to life and express some of my ideas,” she said. “When I look at art, I get a sense of how the artist sees the world.”

The faculty art exhibit allows students to see interesting work in a variety of media, Yang added, showing them the possibilities that exist within artistic practice. “It's an aggregation of some great ideas that will inspire students, and it helps us learn from the perceptions of our teachers.”

"The NMH Visual Arts program has been a transformative experience for me," agreed Kimberly Chen '26. "Every artist, including our teachers, has their own journey and it's inspiring to see how those stories are shown in their work."

By displaying a variety of interests through their work, the visual arts faculty hopes to shine a light on the many ways that art intersects with other academic disciplines on campus and in the professional world, said Rourke.

“One of the most applicable subsets of a fine art background is having these foundational creative skills that you can apply in other areas of your life,” he said. “I hope students see that we're able to apply these skills and a compassionate, connected mindset to being a member of the community.

“As a department faculty, I think our strength is in our diversity.”

The NMH Faculty Art Exhibit opens Friday, Feb. 7, in The Gallery at the Rhodes Arts Center. An opening reception featuring the artists will be held that evening from 6:30 to 8 pm at The Gallery.

Off-campus visitors are welcome to attend the reception and can email jrourke@nmhschool.org to arrange a visit during Gallery hours.