Lise's Lens: February 22, 2024
I’ve been thinking about CSW’s upcoming trip to Japan, sustainable design solutions, and Beyoncé’s surprising new releases as I hit the road to meet with CSW alumni and friends this week.
WHAT I’M READING
- I am excited to be traveling to Japan with a group of students in just a few weeks as part of the Kakehashi Project. In anticipation of the trip, I’ve been immersing myself in the book 36 Views of Mount Fuji: On Finding Myself in Japan, by Cathy Davidson. It was recommended to me by CSW alum and visual artist Niho Kozuru, who has been so helpful in helping to prepare our students and chaperones for the exciting adventure ahead. Earlier this month, Niho joined us on a special tour of the Peabody Essex Museum with Karina H. Corrigan, Associate Director — Collections and H. A. Crosby Forbes Curator of Asian Export Art. We saw collections of Japanese Art, visited the Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home, and learned about the history of trade between Japan and The Netherlands.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- Students in Calin’s Community Engagement group are hosting another “Fix It Cafe,” on campus this Friday. Community members are invited to bring in any clothes and apparel in need of mending or repair. But this isn’t a drop-off service! The hope is that folks will stick around to chat and learn about how they can take care of their items on their own in the future. This endeavor, along with our exciting new course, “Fashion and Textiles: Design Solutions in a Circular World,” have me thinking a lot about our circular economy, especially in the clothing industry. I am so proud of this generation’s desire to dig into this question and actually do something about it. Meanwhile, alum Emily Li ’23 is currently in Monaco for the Junk Kouture World Finals!
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
- Beyoncé’s Country Music! I have to admit, I did not see this coming! I love how she just creates and does what she feels like doing. It makes me think of all the artificial barriers we put on ourselves and on others, fueled by a tendency to sort and categorize. Reinvention and experimentation are so important, no matter who we are.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
I am currently on the road meeting with alumni. Just today I met with Conrad Williams ’98, a highly talented glassblower based in Naples, Florida. Here he is at work!
Campus News
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Photography Teacher Anne Rearick Releases New Book
Photography Teacher Anne Rearick has release a new book of photograpy, Gure Bazterrrak (Our Land). Published by the Deadbeat Club Press, the book will begin shipping this winter and will be available during Paris Photo at Polycopies, Porte de Solférino.Read More -
Anny '28 Wins International Film Awards
Read MoreThis past summer, Anny ’28, worked as executive director and cinematographer for two documentary films titled Shaolin Youth and Confined, earning multiple international awards for her efforts.Anny, a boarding student from China, spent her summer filming Shaolin Youth in the Shaolin Temple, a thousand-year-old temple, where she focused on different groups of Chinese teenagers, showcasing China's special martial arts program and the impact it can have on the growth of teenagers from low-income families. The film focuses on the stories of underserved families and troubled teenagers in rural China who are hoping to change their fate by learning martial arts, showing the dedication and love these teenagers have toward martial arts, and the influence martial arts can have on a person's growth. -
CSW Welcomes Students from Panama
Read MoreLast week CSW welcomed 12 students from C.A.D.I. Bilingual Academy in Panama, where our students spent some time during the mod abroad trip to Panama in mod 5 last school year! They were joined by C.A.D.I.'s Director and administrators. During their visit from October 17-21, 2024, they stayed with CSW host families and attended classes with student ambassadors. -
Mod Break Wilderness Trips are Back!
Read MoreMod break Wilderness Trips are back in action with the first one taking students to the White Mountains! During the 3-day trip, students were split up into two groups based on student preference. The introductory group made its foray into the Kinsman Mountains with History and English teacher/Wilderness Trip Guide Aidan Wang, while the advanced group tackled Mt. Garfield with Science teacher and longtime Wilderness Trip Guide Kevin Smith.
Meet CSW Students
CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.