Our studios were buzzing during DCD’s Open Arts Night as parents and caregivers stepped into the shoes of our students for an evening of hands-on art-making, craftsmanship, and literary exploration. Guided by DCD’s talented arts faculty, attendees traded their evening routines for studio aprons and woodshop safety glasses to experience the creative spark that defines our programs every day.
Participants immersed themselves in one of three specialized workshops:
Visual Arts: Looking at the Life and Work of William Henry Johnson
Led by Visual Arts Teacher Kevin Coakley, this session took participants on a dive into the vibrant, expressive world of African American painter William Henry Johnson (1901–1970). Guests explored Johnson’s distinctive style before picking up oil pastels to recreate one of his iconic masterpieces, experimenting with color layering and texture along the way.
Woodworking: Joinery for the Joy of It
Over in the woodshop with Taylor Tyng, Director of Arts and Woodworking Teacher, the air was filled with the smell of fresh timber as attendees learned the essentials of fine craftsmanship. Working with traditional tools, participants practiced precision joinery techniques to construct and detail their own wooden boxes from scratch.
Creative Writing: Sonnet, Anyone? A Shakespearean Poetry Workshop
Rob Thacher, Middle School English teacher, demystified classical poetry through the structure of the Shakespearean sonnet, following simple steps to craft a poem.
Thank you to Kevin Coakley, Rob Thacher, and Taylor Tyng for sharing their time and talents, and to everyone who brought their curiosity and adventurous spirit—it was a wonderful evening of community, creativity and fun!
