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ARTSDavid R. GammonsThe Beaux’ StrategemStudio DayThe CA community took a break from itsusual schedule in late February to visit areaartist studios, engage with the artists, view theirwork, and learn about the creative process.Studio Day allowed students to learn aboutthe real lives of working artists—including someof their own teachers. They met with painters,sculptors, photographers, documentary film -makers, clothing and jewelry designers, animators,printmakers, letter press artists, aviolinmaker—and more.Said visual arts teacher Jessica Straus, whoplanned the day with Visual Arts DepartmentHead Cynthia Katz: “It’s a great opportunity forkids to get a taste of a workplace that’s anythingbut the cubicle.”Henry Butman ’08CONCORD ACADEMY MAGAZINE SPRING 200838Snapshot: Boston’sSouth EndWe ventured to Boston’s SouthEnd to visit the studios offashion designer Alfred Fian -daca and visual artists HeidiWhitman ’67 and Lisa Houck.Within just one and a halfhours, my group was able tosee the intricate details ofFiandaca’s garments, Whit -man’s unique paintings anddrawings, and Houck’s watercolors,ceramics, andmosaics—and to hear theunique stories of the three, allof whom offered insights andsuggestions to aspiring artists.Whitman had an interestingway of combining realistic andimagined elements into herpaintings and drawings. Shealso told the group about theimportance of an artist studyingmore than just art, becausethe ideas we gain from whatwe learn in school can be trueinspiration for our artwork.Houck, who showed the groupboth finished works and worksin progress, assured the groupthat, despite the “starvingartist” stereotype, artists canpursue their passion and still besuccessful. She explained thatshe has more commissionedjobs than she can finish.Studio Day gave CA studentsthe chance to visit artistspracticing different art formswith different histories andviews on their work; it hassurely left many students withmuch to think about as theypursue their own artisticinterests.—Alexis von Kunes Newton ’08Artist Deborah Davidson on Studio Day