Alumni Memories
A Path In Art
My passion for art started at a very young age and was fueled by my Village School art teacher, Margot Mandel. Art became an integral part of my life from this time at Village School, through the years at Marlborough, and my decision to attend art school. By the time I earned my BFA in Fine Arts from Otis College of Art and Design with honors, I had already received several art awards and my focus in art had centered on oil painting, specifically the marriage of photo-realism and complete abstraction while depicting the human body submerged in water.
2008 through 2009 was a fruitful year. Within six months, three events took place that opened many doors in the Los Angeles art community: I was invited to be one of 400 artists shown and auctioned at the Venice Art Walk benefiting the Venice Family Clinic; I was chosen, out of 60,000 submissions, as one of the top ten most promising artists of 2009 by the famed online London Saatchi gallery; and following this, I was offered a contract for a show with The James Grey Gallery at Bergamot Station for October 2009.
Upon graduation, I began to prepare for this October show by creating new pieces and helped form a group called (3b+1). This group is composed of four women, including myself, who find places outside the gallery setting to show our work and thus ultimately create our own opportunities and exposure.
I sold two major pieces at the gallery, which facilitated the curation and creation of two art happenings with the group (3b+1), also facilitating inclusion in several art shows around Los Angeles. I am currently working with the Venice Family Clinic for the annual Venice Art Walk, and looking forward to be in an auction February 13th where I will be painting live during bidding at Lucent L’Amour, proceeds from which will purchase musical instruments and art supplies for inner city children.
My life, and a long family history of involvement with the arts, have profoundly impacted my sense of self and my art. My work addresses childhood memories and ambiguous fantasy, but revisited through maniacal adult eyes. The randomness of this perspective drives me to hold onto images and photographically captured moments, in the hope of imposing stability and permanence to experiences and realities long past, often reconstructed over times and through longing. This obsession with the past and with memories is a bifurcated experience, which I then attempt to suture together through the practice of my artwork.
I look forward to more shows, helping others with their art careers, and using my talent as positive influence on new generations, breathing life and joy and a place to express oneself in a healthy fashion. None of this would be possible without Margot Mandel.
Francesca Quintano
Class of 1999
All Alumni Reunion 2008
On Sunday, April 22nd, a bunch of familiar faces walked into an unfamiliar place. The faces belonged to about 150 Village School alumni and their parents. The unfamiliar place was our new Center for the Arts and Athletics. “Whoa! This is the coolest gym I’ve ever seen!” was the cry for many as they toured our new building with their mouths open in astonishment. Several turned almost green with envy: “Why didn’t we get to have such an amazing gym?” was also heard.
Invitations were issued to classes dating back to 1999. Those Village graduates are now sophomores in college. Matt Newberg (class of ’01), who will be off to the University of Pennsylvania next fall, DJ’d the event. Dandy Don’s served ice cream sundaes, and alums signed t-shirts and perused their old yearbooks. The teachers who attended were delighted to see their former students. Classmates greeted each other warmly and caught up with each other after touring the building. Some people got to see their old sixth grade buddies after many years. Often the older buddy hadn’t seen their kindergarten buddy since they were six years old.
Many thanks go to Mrs. Slotnick who worked hard with a student committee to make the day fun and memorable. Hopefully this will become another Village School tradition.
Jordan Sholem
Class of 2005
Memories of a Village School Alumna -
Class of 2000
What do you think of when you see the color red? Village School! Remember the red tee shirts we used to wear parading back and forth to the park for P.E. - dressing for school was never so easy!
Although graduating from sixth grade and starting at a new school is very exciting, my memories of Village School will never be replaced. From my first days in first grade, all the way up to sixth grade, there were many new experiences and challenges to be met. Some of my favorite times at Village include building the log cabin in third grade, student government elections, going to Sacramento, Williamsburg and Catalina, the sixth grade play, the Haunted House, graduation, and I'm sure none of us will ever forget Ms. Mandel's laugh!
Village School was like a home away from home for me. Although we worked hard, we had a lot of fun too. I felt very well prepared when I entered middle school. Even though many of my Village School friends are at different middle schools, we still keep in touch. For me, Village School is the BEST elementary school around!
Greetings from Washington!
Dear Ms. Malone,
Long time no speak! I saw you walking with Ms. Williams and Ms. Slotnick on the way to an appointment I had in the Village, but I was too far away to you to hear me if I yelled "hello" and was running quite late.
Again, I just wanted to say I think Village has done a great job with its new facilities and am so grateful for the education I received there nearly a decade ago (save for fifth and sixth grades, I truly was receiving the majority of my education there deep in the 1990s!).
It's incredible how much has happened since I've started at The George Washington University. I absolutely love DC; it's a vibrant city with amazing street life and is constantly changing. I just started internship number 11 at the Office of Congressman Howard Berman on Capitol Hill. After working on Hillary's campaign for 15 months, raising money to defeat Prop. 8 at Equality California this summer, and interning Obama's campaign in Virginia this Fall, I thought it'd be appropriate for me to return to serve in government for the first time in over 3 years.
Please send my regards to the staff and faculty at Village School. Although it has been so many years since I've been in elementary school, I would've never made it to where I am today if it weren't for the six years at Village that provided me with the educational foundation that our country should strive for when educating our children. I hope one day we can make the education I received at Village School a reality for all American children.
Thanks,
Joe Goldman
