This year’s alumni exhibition features work from the Sky Paintings series by Shipley alum Peter Makela ’04 and will be on display in Speer Gallery from April 9 to May 5. Celebrate the fine arts at Shipley with an artist reception in Speer Gallery on Friday, May 3, 2024, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Alumni Artist Reception is part of Alumni Reunion Weekend and is open to family and friends of the Shipley community, we ask that you please register online or contact alumni@shipleyschool.org with any questions.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Peter Makela ’04 is an artist who has spent the last two years living and working in the Himalayas of Nepal and the Kingdom of Bhutan. In 2022, Makela was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Nepal to pursue a series of Sky Paintings in relation to his study and practice of Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly Madhyamaka Philosophy which investigates emptiness and innate luminosity. Makela has been a student of Himalayan Buddhism for over a decade and in that time has spent much time in the remote Himalayan regions of Bhutan, Pemakod, Ladakh, and Mustang, as well as the Kathmandu Valley. The elements in his work are greatly informed by his immersion in the cultures, landscapes, and religions of the roof of the world.
He holds an MFA in painting from the LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art and a BFA in painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Peter has recently moved back to the United States and looks forward to reconnecting with the Shipley community. Visit petemakela.com to learn more about Peter and view additional works.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Each Sky Painting is an exploration of Buddha Nature, impermanence, interdependence, and the illusory nature of everything.
My current body of work of Sky Paintings which I’ve engaged in over the last five years has provided me with ample opportunities to explore an intersection between perceptual painting, abstract painting and states of contemplation. The act of painting allows me to apply presence and react to what's in front of me as well as engage in analytical meditations on questioning what is perceived and who is perceiving it. Through this process of staring at and responding to the ever-changing sky I use this time to contemplate formlessness, as the sky has no form, it is pure space and luminosity just like how Vajrayana masters describe the true nature of mind. The longer I engage in this practice the more profound the experiences.
In Vajrayana Buddhism, a reverence for lineage—expressed by devotedly studying the masters—is of the utmost importance. At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I received my BFA, I was trained to always study and revere the great painters of the past: a principle that has never left me, and that has contributed to my real veneration for and devotion to both Vajrayana and artistic masters. Painting the sky has become a way for me to engage with and honor a lineage of painting that has always been dear to me, the romantic perceptual landscape painters of the 18th and 19th centuries, JMW Turner, Boudin, Courbet, and Monet. I hope to follow in these great painters' footsteps and bring this lineage of exploring nature, the mind, and their interdependence into the 21st century.
Dr. Taylor, a Shipley alumna and distinguished scholar, has dedicated her career to African American literature, teaching, and leadership at HBCUs. Now Director of the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, she leverages her experience to elevate the museum, stewarding its collection and sharing the richness of the African diaspora.
Morgan is the Director of Behavioral Health for a Philadelphia nonprofit and oversees multiple mental health programs and advocates to reduce stigma in minority communities. A former SURE president and Shipley alum, Morgan credits Shipley’s diverse opportunities for shaping her advocacy skills and encourages current students to embrace growth and new experiences.
In this Shipley Class of 2020 Young Alumni Spotlight, All School President Declan Buckley ’20 reflects on his path since Shipley, sharing insights from his studies at Harvard and his work in production finance at NBC Sports. He discusses the value of Shipley’s community, risk-taking, and embracing new challenges in shaping his journey after graduation.
In the first Young Alumni Q&A spotlight of the Shipley Class of 2020 series, Caroline Milgram ’20 reflects on her path from Shipley to her current role as an Underwriting Analyst in New York City. Joining Shipley in 9th grade, she embraced extracurriculars like Student Government and theatre, while developing perseverance and self-advocacy. Caroline credits Shipley’s supportive environment with helping her navigate challenges, including transferring universities, and preparing her for success at the University of Pennsylvania and beyond.
Shipley alumni Katrina F. Sherrerd ’75 and Chris Comstock ’10 are shaping the School's future with new endowment funds that champion inclusivity and artistic expression, ensuring Shipley remains a place where students and educators thrive for generations to come.
After 37 years shaping Shipley’s art program, Chris Wagner’s passion for art flourishes in a new way. Discover how a chance watercolor class in France sparked a vibrant second act in her artistic journey.
In his Commencement Address to the class of 2024, Prashant Bhuyan ’96 emphasized the importance of maintaining humanity in an increasingly AI-driven world. He advised the graduates to think critically, foster meaningful human connections, and use technology to create new paradigms that benefit humanity, thereby becoming leaders in the future.
The son of a North Philly cop and South Philly educator, Shipley alumnus Robert "BJ" Glenn III ’07 demonstrated prowess as an athlete and as a student. Knowing the importance of a good education, BJ's parents enrolled him in Kindergarten at Shipley where he soon made his mark in class, and later on Shipley’s playing fields in lacrosse, baseball, and other sports. But it was at daily recess at age 6 when he discovered a sport that perfectly blended his budding speed and agility with a strong leg: soccer.
Just before graduating in 2020, Lexi Wojtelwicz reflected on her time at Shipley, writing, “Shipley is constantly presenting different ways to try something new…. There are so many ways to step out of your comfort zone, grow, and discover your passions while knowing you have the support of the whole community”. Now a senior at Penn State University, Lexi will be representing her Greek organization, Delta Gamma, in THON 2024. Lexi shares more about THON and her leadership role.
Princeton University graduate Ishea Johnson ’19 credits her Shipley teachers with creating an environment where she developed and thrived as an independent learner, contributing to her success in college. "Shipley is truly outstanding in that it simultaneously provides its students with a rigorous, academically challenging curriculum while also fostering intellectual exploration and creativity," she says.
Shipley All School President Henry Katz ’19, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in May with a BA in Political Communication. This summer, he served as an intern at The White House in the Office of Scheduling and Advance, and has recently started a new position as a Political Strategist at Schoen Cooperman Research in New York City.
Carter Barnhart ’10 is the co-founder and CEO of Charlie Health, with the goal of providing high-quality, personalized mental health treatment to a broader population through a virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) that combines group, individual, and family therapy sessions delivered entirely online. In 2022, Carter was named to Inc. Magazine’s Female Founders 100 list for her work to rapidly grow Charlie Health.
When Helen “Honey” Beuf ’78 lost her daughter to suicide, she turned her grief into action. Working with a good friend who is a movie producer, Honey and her other daughter, Tess, decided to produce a documentary film called My Sister Liv. In making the film, Honey says she became aware of unmet needs of kids in learning about suicide prevention and mental health.
Shipley is lucky to have two of its own at the helm of a re-energized Alumni Engagement Office after a two-year hiatus from hosting regional and major events. Aly Mason ’07 took over the role of Director in September 2022, joining Assistant Director Ali Schwartz ’10 in the shared endeavor of connecting with alumni of all ages through robust alumni programming.
This beloved former French teacher and Admissions Director retired from Shipley in 2009 after 32 years of serving in various teaching and administrative roles. Having served on the Boards of Church Farm School and Benchmark School, Mr. Coleman is back at Shipley as a member of the Board of Trustees.
The Alumni Service Award is presented for outstanding volunteer service to The Shipley School by an alumna or alumnus as demonstrated by strong loyalty, exceptional contributions of time and effort, and personal commitment to the advancement of the School’s mission.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the outstanding achievement, the dedication, and the personal accomplishments of a Shipley alumna or alumnus in a particular field of endeavor, whether it be in a chosen profession, through formal volunteer activities unrelated to the school, or through a personal commitment to an issue, project, or cause.
The Shipley School Young Alumni Award recognizes a Shipley alumna or alumnus who has graduated within the preceding twenty years and demonstrates innovation, curiosity, and creativity in the pursuit of excellence in a particular field, whether it be in a profession, through formal volunteer activities unrelated to the School, or through a personal commitment to an issue, project, or cause.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.