Alumni Events

Students, faculty, parents and alumni gathered to celebrate the skilled art of Sarah Gilbert ’00. Sarah describes her work as “exploring the boundaries defining the human, as both a physical form and a conceptual category. Often working in glass, embroidery, and other materials invested with rich historical craft traditions, I am interested in how objects mediate our experiences, as well as the ways in which we define ourselves through the labor of our bodies.” Event attendees were impressed with Sarah’s range of artistic skills across a wide variety of mediums. They were particularly wowed by her creation of metal tools in one installation. Many thought it was created, at least in part, with ready-made materials, until a question from the crowd prompted Sarah to describe the installation. In fact, Sarah herself created each part of the piece. The event was another wonderful opportunity for Shipley art students to learn valuable lessons from a successful alumni artist, who also happens to be an assistant professor of art at Reed College. Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your time and talents with the Shipley community!

Sarah’s art will remain in Speer Gallery until March 21.

Speer Gallery was abuzz as a full house of students, faculty, parents and alumni gathered to celebrate the thought provoking art of Chris Chiappa ’89. Chris describes his work as “… consciously a self-portrait.  Building on Duchamp's legacy, I adopt the readymade as a symbol of myself by choosing things that are personal - relics from my own history... I attempt to circumvent normal perception by finding a conceptual loophole and passing the object through it - realism with a twist.”  Upper and Middle School students had no shortage of questions regarding the objects in the exhibition or the creative process behind the art. It was a wonderful opportunity for Shipley’s budding artists to interact with an alumnus who has successfully pursued their passion and craft. Thank you, Chris, for sharing your time and talents with the Shipley community!

Speer Gallery shone on November 29 as a full house gathered to celebrate the popular art of DEER DANA, aka Dana Veraldi ’02. The crowd of students, parents, alumni, faculty, and Veraldi family members enjoyed listening to Dana as she explained the creative process behind the DEER DANA brand. Many attendees donned their own unique choice of the DEER DANA t-shirt line. Limited edition prints were created in honor of this unique exhibition. The internationally known fashion line and limited edition prints will exhibit in Speer Gallery through December 21. Merchandise is available and a portion of the proceeds benefit Shipley’s Fine Arts program. A special online promotion can be found at www.deerdana.com. Enter promo code ‘Shipley2002’ for a discounted price.

For Alumni returning to the Main Line, Thanksgiving at Shipley signifies a time to gather and reconnect. Young alumni began their homecoming on Tuesday at the traditional All-School Assembly followed by a social and Upper School ‘open-mic’ performance. Thanksgiving eve found those of age toasting one another at Kelly’s Pub in Bryn Mawr. The holiday weekend concluded with calorie-burning and fun at Shipley’s athletic venues. Current students, alumni, and coaches from various sports took the field/court to enjoy some friendly competition before finishing the day with a luncheon social. Cheers to everyone who made Shipley a part of their Thanksgiving holiday!

Shipley faculty, students, alumni, parents, and friends gathered in Speer Gallery to celebrate the unique art of alumna Kim Brickley ’98. Students held the floor with several questions for the artist ranging from color palette choices to materials used (including oil paint, kool aid, Styrofoam, resins and more). Kim described the inspiration for many of her pieces and gave the group some insight into her upcoming work, which may include a video installation in Philadelphia. Thank you, Kim, for sharing your art with the Shipley community!

Alumni, parents of alumni, and friends gathered at Shipley for the traditional Alumni and Parents of Alumni Tea at the 52nd annual Shipley Shops on Thursday, October 18. Graduating classes of 2007 to 1944 were represented at the event along with many parents and friends. The Middle School String Quartet provided entertainment while guests enjoyed refreshments, shopped and socialized.

Shipley alumni spanning the classes of 1957 to 2011 joined Head of School, Steve Piltch, for a reception in Boston on Thursday, September 27. The evening featured a reading and Q&A session with Madeline (Emmy) Miller ’96 and her New York Times Bestseller novel, The Song of Achilles. Recipient of the prestigious 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction and former Shipley faculty member, Emmy has Shipley fans who span the globe. It was wonderful to connect our Boston alumni to one another and a shining star in the literary world. Visit www.madelinemiller.com for more information about the book.

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A sold-out crowd of Shipley alumni, honorary alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, former faculty, and current parents filled the Bryn Mawr Film Institute on Monday, September 24 for a screening of the film BACKWARDS during its premiere week.

Written, produced, and starred in by alumna Sarah Megan Thomas ’97, the film was a highlight reel of beautiful Shipley campus scenes and iconic Philadelphia vistas. Sarah’s performance, alongside well known James Van Der Beek, Margaret Colin, and Glenn Morshower, left movie goers smiling. Following the screening, Sarah participated in a Q&A session with the hometown audience and thanked the many Shipley community members who contributed to the film’s success. The film is now playing in over 15 cities/theaters nationwide. Visit www.backwardsthemovie.com for theater locations and show times.

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On March 15, Head of School Steve Piltch played host to what he has deemed “one of the most successful and enjoyable alumni events we have had in recent years.” Alumni, honorary alumni, parents, and Shipley faculty and staff were excited to welcome back Madeline (Emmy) Miller ’96, the author of the New York Times best seller, The Song of Achilles, for an evening gathering at Shipley’s historic Beechwood House.

As guests congregated to celebrate the book and get their copies signed, it became clear that the evening was really a celebration of Emmy and the contributions she has made to so many peoples’ lives. In speaking with various alumni (many of whom had been students of Emmy’s when she taught at Shipley from 2001 to 2008) and parents throughout the evening, the phrase “Emmy made a profound impact in my (child’s) life,” was repeated frequently.

When Emmy addressed the group, she reciprocated those sentiments, stating that her students taught her as much, if not more, than she had as a facilitator of Latin and Shakespeare at Shipley. A labor of love, The Song of Achilles, went through an evolution, not unlike Emmy herself, during the 10 years she spent working on the it. Emmy thanked Shipley for being one of the places where she could grow into the person she is today.

A wonderful addition to the evening, French wine, donated by Tom Wilcox ’05 of Ansonia Wines (www.ansoniawines.com), kept guests’ palates satiated. Tom, a former student of Emmy’s, stepped forward to contribute to the evening when he learned about the event. Thank you, Tom, for the generous donation!

In the coming months Emmy will continue to tour the country promoting her book, while the accolades will surely continue. Stay tuned for a possible alumni event in the Boston area in fall 2012 that will also include a book signing with Emmy; she resides in Cambridge with her fiancé Nathanial Drake ’02. We wish them all the best in their upcoming October vows!

Get more information about The Song of Achilles and Emmy Miller.

View photos from the event.

Head of School Steve Piltch along with hosts Breck Goodwin Longstreth ’70 and Will Longstreth, welcomed a diverse group of alumni to Mercer Island on February 29. Class years represented ranged from 1970 to 1998. Making connections was the theme of the evening. Shipley alumni haven’t officially gathered in the Seattle area in nearly a decade, so it was nice for guests to discover how closely they shared their neighborhoods, schools, civic groups, and more with fellow Shipley grads. As with any alumni gathering, there was a fair bit of nostalgia, none more impressive than when a 1980 alumna donned her Shipley tunic and White Blazer, embroidered with a rainbow of varsity sports emblems, over her existing wardrobe to pose for a candid photo! Bravo! It was a pleasure to connect with many familiar faces and get to know those who were not as familiar. Steve Piltch encouraged all to come back and see the groundbreaking work done every day at Shipley in the classroom, in the lab, in the studio, on the stage, and on the playing field. The completion of Phase I of Shipley’s Upper Campus Master Plan and a special invitation to those classes celebrating reunions this spring surely inspired some in the room to book their trip to Shipley in 2012. Thank you, Breck and Will, for generously hosting such a lovely gathering! We hope to return to Seattle again soon!

Come Back. Attend a Shipley alumni event in your area when it is offered. Visit campus, meet the students. Attend Reunion. See how Shipley can make an impact in your life today. We look forward to seeing you soon!

View photos from the event.

Head of School, Steve Piltch, and host Macke Raymond ’72 welcomed a diverse group of alumni to the Metropolitan Club in San Francisco on February 2. Class years represented ranged from 1959 to 1993. The room was buzzing with conversation about the amazing things our alumni are doing personally and professionally. From patent law at Apple, educational policy and reform, consulting, brand management at Method, product design at Zynga, technology and its effects at brokerage firms, landscaping and design, upcoming Shipley class reunions, and a multitude of other topics…everyone left with a new or renewed connection to their fellow alumni and Shipley. Shipley staff departed with glowing pride for our Bay-area alumni and their endeavors, in addition to the names of individuals who want to get connected with the students through their careers and the curriculum. Steve Piltch encouraged all to come back and see the groundbreaking work done every day at Shipley in the classroom, in the lab, in the studio, on the stage, and on the playing field. The near completion of Phase I of Shipley’s Upper Campus Master Plan and a special invitation to those classes celebrating reunions this spring surely inspired many in the room to book their trip to Shipley in 2012. Thank you to Macke for generously hosting such a lovely gathering!

View photos from the event.

On Tuesday, October 25, 16 Los Angeles-area alumni and their guests gathered at the Santa Monica Museum of Art to meet and see one another, to reconnect with Shipley, and to take in the Museum’s current featured exhibition, Beatrice Wood: Career Woman—Drawings, Paintings, Vessels, and Objects. Ms. Wood, a 1911 alumna of Shipley, was a prolific artist and—as noted in the spring 2011 Bulletin feature about her—one of Shipley’s most unconventional graduates. In her life of 105 years, Ms. Wood became world-renowned for her luster-glaze pottery, and her work is part of a city-wide six-month collaboration called Pacific Standard Time: Art in L.A. 1945-1980. The Shipley reception was made possible through the generous partnership of the Santa Monica Museum of Art, whose Executive Director, Elsa Longhauser, gave guests a personally-guided tour of the exhibit.

After the tour, Head of School Steve Piltch chatted with alumni, thanked them for their support of Shipley, and shared plans for Shipley’s future as the School continues to strive to attract and retain top-notch faculty and students. Guests were excited to learn about Shipley’s summer 2011 construction project, including demolition of the Thornbrook Manor apartment building and construction of two new state-of-the-art artificial turf fields on the Upper Campus, which opened last month. Dr. Piltch answered questions from those gathered about Shipley’s enrollment, curriculum, and future, and invited all to “come visit!” when they are in the Philadelphia area.

View more photos from the event.

Greeting her guests in Shipley blue-and-green, Susan Gaukler Zimmerman ’75 welcomed alumni to her Charlestown, MA home on Tuesday, October 4 for an evening filled with conversation, connections, and camaraderie among Shipley alumni. Read more and view photos from the event.