“It’s not just a space where they go to class; it’s a space where they can live,” said Greg Cice, the Visual Arts Department Chair and AP Studio Art teacher.
The opening of the Creative Center for Arts and Technology (CCAT) marks a groundbreaking change for AP Studio Art students. The new building propels art students’ growth by providing personal studio spaces and a collaborative environment.
Before the CCAT, the AP Studio Art students struggled to immerse themselves in their classroom. Their old classroom was often crowded and overflowing with various projects. Every session required the unpacking and repacking of materials, disrupting workflow and creativity. In the new studio, each student has a dedicated workspace, allowing them to dive into their projects without interruption.
Seniors Kayce Park and Zora Teacher emphasized the importance of these new personal stations for each student. “They make us feel so professional and help us take it more seriously,” Kayce said. She said that working at her personal table has increased her focus and allowed her to dive into the creation of her pieces.
“Having their own studio is a game changer. Now, students can leave their work out, allowing them to seamlessly pick up where they left off. The studio is filled with AP work on display, creating an environment of inspiration and motivation,” said Mr. Cice.
Senior Zora Teacher said the CCAT encourages focus and creativity.
“I can come in during any free and know that I’ll have the perfect space for just AP work. Just walking into the building puts me in the mental state to be ready to create,” she said.
Beyond the physical enhancements, the CCAT cultivates a close-knit artistic community. The hours students spend in the studio allow them to bond in ways that extend outside of the classroom.
“There is a really great vibe between the AP art seniors from the common critique walls and comfortable furniture, so they can hang out in the easy chairs when we have critiques,” said Mr. Cice.
“I’ve stuck with art because our class is so close, and we all support each other, which makes class much more bearable,” Kayce said.
The personal stations for each student in AP art allow them to customize it and bring things from home to make their working environment feel more like home. Senior Lucia Butterfield’s space is full of toys and paintings to motivate her in her work which focuses on photos from her childhood.
Students even look forward to art class because of how much peace the studio gives them.
“I genuinely enjoy it, and it’s basically my favorite thing to do. During the school day, I’m relieved to see that I have art next in my schedule because it’s almost a break from the more stressful classes,” Zora said.
The creative freedom of AP Studio Art allows the students to develop personal and inspired concentrations. The class requires students to create all their pieces around a specific theme, called a concentration.
Kayce’s concentration explores the idea of perception and its limitations. One of her pieces—a blanket-wrapped portrait with her head peeking through—-symbolizes the ways in which we perceive others.
Zora’s work celebrates Black experiences, depicting scenes from cookouts and family reunions. Through her concentration, she hopes to highlight a fun and vibrant part of her life while also revealing an unseen side of her to the Hackley community.
Mr. Cice, who has been teaching AP Studio Art for over 25 years, is continually amazed by his students’ work and concentrations. “Every year, they get a little bigger, a little more ambitious, and they reach a little further. They inspire themselves, and it’s inspiring for me to witness,” he said.
He also acknowledges how the AP Studio Art program often inspires and motivates the foundational classes by producing work that other students dream of creating in their future.
“The AP Studio Art program is sort of the engine that drives the whole program forwards. I’ve always said our program is only as good as the artwork it produces. The AP students produce the largest, the most sophisticated, the most ambitious work, as they’re expected to, and their work really inspires the students in the foundations classes, the intermediate classes, and the advanced classes. The AP students set the bar, and the rest of the program tries to reach that bar,” he said.
Mr. Cice says the north-facing windows flood the art studios with the perfect light to create art.
“The front wall is a glass curtain wall which faces north, which allows all this wonderfully diffused northern light to come into the studio. They get this beautiful, even light throughout the studio—the perfect light for making art. There are also some rooms that are south-facing towards the Hudson River and the bridge, it is a beautiful space to be in,” he said.
Every detail of the CCAT is designed to empower the students that are in it. It is not just a studio—it is a home that promotes creativity and inspiration.
