Class Trips and Visiting Artists

We were thrilled to welcome alumna Chase Hafer '14 back "across the pond" to Gwynedd Mercy!

Now a Senior Designer at Cole & Son Limited, a luxury wallpaper and fabric company based in London, Chase returned stateside to share her inspiring career journey with students in Mrs. Hohenstein's Art class.

She gave students a behind-the-scenes look at the wallpaper design and project management process—from research and painting to printing and final production—and showcased stunning examples of her own work and Cole & Son's iconic designs.

Chase is a shining example of how Gwynedd graduates go on to thrive as leaders and innovators. We wish Chase continued success in all her creative endeavors!

What an enriching experience for our AP and Honors Art students! A visit to the Rodin and Barnes Museums offered an invaluable opportunity to dive deeply into Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and early modern art, exploring these styles and connecting them to their own creative journeys. GMAHS students engaged hands-on with the art through sketching and creative writing, allowing them to experience the power of art as a form of personal expression.

AP and Honors Art students had a wonderful time at the Rodin Museum on Friday October 14th in Philadelphia. Rodin was a prolific sculptor who worked with clay, plaster, marble, and bronze. His work is dramatically realistic, referring to classical Greek and Roman figure sculpture, however Rodin’s sculptures contain deep emotional life of joy and turmoil infused within the gestures and expressions of his subjects. Rodin is known as the father of modern sculpture because of his contributions to the art world. He was one of the first sculptors to show human angst in sculpture. He was also one of the first to assemble separate pieces and title them as one. He revolutionized sculpture much like his contemporaries, the Impressionists, revolutionized painting. Philadelphia is fortunate to have this collection, second only to the Rodin Museum in Paris, France. The art students spent time learning about Rodin and Camille Claudel, his apprentice. Camille Claudel became a successful sculptor in a profession that was not open to women of the time. Students studied Rodin’s sculptures and sketched their favorite pieces. They met with a curator and discussed Rodin and Camille’s work. The curator shared information about her career and education. The students also worked on creative writing assignments. They enjoyed lunch in the garden “Paris on the Parkway”, the grounds of the Rodin Museum. They had a beautiful day and are motivated and inspired to begin their own figure drawings and sculptures!

A Trip to Philadelphia

Art students went on a field trip the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday April 29th. They saw the Teresita Fernandez installation, Fire (United States of the Americas). Students are working on a written response about the connection of this artwork and our Critical Concern focus for this year, Earth. Students also visited Impressionism galleries and American art galleries. They are about to start painting en plein air. This project is inspired by the Hudson River School landscapes they saw in the museum. After lunch, students had the opportunity to visit galleries related to the art history research projects and presentations they completed earlier in the school year. It was a fun, educational, and wonderful day!

Mrs. Hohenstein's Ceramics & Sculpture students had a fantastic time visiting Fonthill Castle and Moravian Pottery & Tile Works in Doylestown.

With guidance from museum educators, they explored the historic site and learned about Henry Mercer (1856–1930)—an artist, archaeologist, and tile maker dedicated to preserving traditional craftsmanship. Mercer built Fonthill Castle as both his home and a showcase for his eclectic collections, while his nearby tileworks remains a functioning handmade tile factory. A champion of the Arts and Crafts movement, he embraced handmade craftsmanship in response to industrialization, emphasizing traditional techniques, natural inspiration, and a return to slower, more intentional artistry.

Students toured both sites, gaining insight into Mercer's artistic vision and tile-making techniques. After a picnic lunch, they sketched architectural details and design ideas, drawing inspiration for their own tile and mosaic creations.

Visiting Artist, One of Our Own!
Sr. Patricia Donlin shared her talent with the Junior Art majors. Students were excited to learn that their theology teacher is also an artist and the art department was happy to have her visit in some classes. Sr. Pat shared some of her most recent water color work and explained how prayer and meditation are part of her creative process. She spoke about her experiences on retreats and other times of reflection. She explained how these times inspired the subject matter, color, and design in her work. Students then had a chance to create water color paintings in a quiet and meditative environment. Sr. Pat spoke about the technique of water color and how it is difficult to control and easy to over-do. She inspired students with the idea that sometimes beautiful things happen when you let go and don’t try to control too much. Also, knowing when to stop and let something be simply what it is can be part of the process with art and life in general. Sr. Pat even shared some of her favorite inspirational music from her play list!

Niko Chocheli is a classical artist who teaches and has a studio in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Republic of Georgia. He is a master painter who owns the style and influence of the old masters from Europe. His work references religion, history, mythology, and cultural stories. He creates drawings, paintings, murals, etchings, and icon portraits. Niko also teaches art history and gives tours in art museums. He has received local and international honors for his art work.

Niko visited classes and shared his talent and philosophy of art with sophomore and junior art majors. He passed around published books that contain his artwork while he spoke about his experience as an artist. Niko emphasized that creativity is a gift from God and how his faith inspires his work. He spoke about what it means to be an artist, to see beauty and the responsibility of communicating what you see with accuracy and meaning. Niko encouraged students to draw everything they see, to study art history, and to read. An informed artist can achieve more meaningful work. “Speaking most directly to his faith in his art are his icons and religious murals found in churches, schools and universities, monasteries, other institutions across the Delaware Valley and in his native land. A whimsical playfulness shows in his mystical and folk tale paintings of animals, sea creatures and other life forms occupying fantastic landscapes, and in his acclaimed illustrations for children's faith books.” -Villanova University. Niko answered questions about his training, college, and life as an artist. He inspired students with descriptions of his home country of Georgia. He spoke about how the inspirational landscape of the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea were formative for him. He also shared that his parents, who were both artists, understood his passion and supported and encouraged his creativity. Students enjoyed Niko’s visit and are motivated and inspired for their own artwork.
www.nikochocheli.com