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.
The Upper School Honors Jazz Combo, directed by saxophonist Chris Oatts, is Shipley's premier music ensemble and reflects Shipley's dedication to excellence in the arts. The group continually impresses audiences and serves as a pinnacle experience in Shipley's musical learning community.
🇮🇹 Last month, 13 students and 2 teachers had the trip of a lifetime in Italy, exploring Paestum, Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Naples' Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and Rome's historical sites and museums, experiencing Italian culture, history, and art!
12 Shipley Spanish students had an unforgettable adventure in Spain, exploring Madrid, Zaragoza, and Barcelona, and immersing themselves in local culture and iconic landmarks. ¡Recuerdos para toda la vida! 🇪🇸
At Shipley, students are supported in pursuing their passions beyond the classroom, as showcased by eighth-grader Anne Martindale, whose imaginative costume designs for the Middle School’s production of Alice in Wonderland transformed the stage, blending artistic vision with the encouragement of dedicated teachers.
Shipley is pleased to welcome Steve Lisk as Interim Head of School for the 2024-2025 school year. Steve Lisk served as the 10th Head of School at Lancaster Country Day School from 2008 to 2022. His 14 years at LCDS made him the second-longest tenured head in the school’s 100-year history. Across 34 years in independent schools, he has served also as an executive coach, division head, department chair, dorm head, classroom teacher, advisor, and athletic coach.
Affinity groups at Shipley help to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, empowering students of diverse backgrounds to build authentic relationships, celebrate their identities, and grow into confident, compassionate global citizens. Learn more about our Lower School Affinity Spaces.
After 34 years of dedicated service to The Shipley School, Kay Weinstock is retiring as College Counseling Assistant. Her meticulous attention to detail and genuine kindness have shepherded thousands of Shipley students through the college admissions process.
The Upper School Administration recognized the outgoing and incoming student leadership officers and presented students with academic, athletic, and leadership awards at the annual Closing Awards Ceremony.
Shipley's Director of Libraries, Jennifer Phiambolis, collaborates with teachers to integrate library research into course projects, fostering students' critical thinking and information literacy skills. This approach empowers students to discern credible information and challenge online misinformation.
A quiet powerhouse in Shipley’s Athletic Department, Katelyn manages the moving parts of anywhere from 12-15 teams per season. While that may seem chaotic—she sticks to her spreadsheets and checklists, plans for various scenarios, and thrives under pressure, all while presenting a calm demeanor.
Christine Greenwood held various roles at Shipley, spanning a tenure of 36 years, most notably as an art teacher and the advisor of The Beacon and the Yearbook. She will retire at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.
Shipley's beloved PreKindergarten teacher Tina Wattles will retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year, leaving a lasting mark on the community. Her energy and smile will be greatly missed by her students and colleagues alike. "For a generation, Tina has planted acorns that have grown into mighty oaks. Her work will reverberate for years and years to come,” said Head of School Michael Turner.
Discover how Shipley School's music program nurtures young musicians from Lower to Upper School, fostering confidence, creativity, and collaboration. Learn how students find their musical voice and achieve professional-level performance through this comprehensive education.
Anna Dejdar ’04 is set to embark on a new journey, leaving behind a legacy that spans over two decades. As she prepares to assume her new role as Head of Upper School at Stratford Academy in Macon, GA, in the 2024-2025 school year, we reflect on her invaluable contributions and the indelible mark she has left on our School.
Shipley's Middle and Upper School Science Olympiad Teams earned many medals at the Pennsylvania Southeast Region Science Olympiad Tournament on March 8 at Penn State Abington.
This year’s alumni exhibition features work from the Sky Paintingsseries 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.
Discover how our theater program nurtures student voice, confidence, and leadership. From sixth grade silliness to Upper School self-awareness, our students learn to express themselves with empathy and creativity, embodying our mission of compassionate participation.
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.
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.