By Tara Gadde ’11, Arts & Entertainment Editor and Sydney Sheehan ’14, Staff Writer

This year the McGraw Art Gallery themed exhibit will be showcasing Newark Academy’s motto, “Ad Lumen,” in the most literal sense. Here are four things you should know about this year’s selection:

1. The theme: light. Charged with possibilities, this year’s theme will stretch our perceptions about the definition of light, and how it can be used in phrases, expressions, and concepts. The annual exhibit, open to all members of the community, will showcase the variety of artistic talents NA has to offer.
2. The inspiration: Italy. Mrs. Brodie, the pioneer of the annual themed exhibit, had the opportunity to visit and explore the artistic scene in Italy this summer. “Particularly in the early evening when the sun was setting, everything was bathed in a shimmering, golden light,” Mrs. Brodie romantically reminisces. The undeniable beauty of such a scene could not escape Mrs. Brodie’s memory. She decided, with some inspiration from her sister, to transpose her experience in the allure of light to influence Newark Academy’s winter artistic musings.
3. The method: lists. To come up with a theme, Mrs. Brodie and Mrs. Dixler usually bounce ideas off of each other and create lists of possible themes in collaborative effort. In some cases a member of the NA community may significantly influence the theme as well. The theme for the art exhibit is may be inspired by recent trends in school culture as well. For example, Ms. Brodie says, “When the school became more  interested in being “green”, by adding the vegetable gardens to the arts courtyard, for example we chose the theme ‘GROWING.’”
4. The purpose: getting personal.  “The theme exhibit allows people to show their interpretation of the concept and thus the work becomes quite personal.  It would be wonderful if we get a wide variety of interpretations,” says Mrs. Brodie. Do not be afraid to explore your visions, values, and beliefs, and display them through your art, recommends Brodie. What does light really mean to you? Is it illumination, knowledge, faith, isolation, inspiration? The exhibit is your outlet—let your personality shine through.