Visual Arts
Students have formal art instruction starting in the three-year-old preschool and visit the lower school art studio once a week through the 5th grade, and 6th graders take art and theater for a quarter each.
High school students have a choice from 17 courses in visual arts, including four Advanced Placement courses.
Our campus has three art studios for instruction, complete with a kiln room for ceramics. Hundreds of pieces of student work are on display in nearly every building on campus in special display cases and on the walls, and the annual Art Showcase features the work of every art student.
Students enter their work and receive recognition at the Congressional Art Competition, the S.C. Independent School Association State Art Show, the Converse Women in Art Show, the Sumter County Fair Art Show, and ArtFields Jr.
Eleven Students Accepted for ArtFields Jr.
The artwork of 11 students has been accepted for ArtFields Jr. 2024, an art competition open to students throughout South Carolina. The selection process was extremely competitive with more than 800 submissions from across the state. ArtFields, held in Lake City the week of April 26-May4, is one of the south’s premier art competitions and festivals. The goal of the show is to honor the artists of the Southeast with a week’s worth of celebration and competition in the heart of a traditional small southern town. Over $145,000 in prizes will be awarded based on the input of every visitor to ArtFields and a panel of judges made up of acclaimed artists and educators.
The following students of Ms. Tara Breslin-Schumacher had their work accepted: Lottie Bynum ‘25 (Drawing III), Jose Diaz ‘27 (Drawing I), Emmi Leard ‘24 (AP Studio Art-Drawing), Rhayne Owens ‘24 (AP Studio Art-Drawing), Logan Schumacher ‘25 (Drawing III), Liz Singkhonket ‘26 (Drawing II), and Mary Ellen Thorne ‘26 (Drawing III). Caroline McElveen ‘24, a student in the AP 3-D Art-Ceramics class taught by Mrs. Rachel Jones Brown ‘00 had her work accepted, as did Addison Thornton ‘24 and Camryn Wilmes ‘25, students in the Graphic Design I class taught by Dr. Terri Smith.
Downtown Art Display
The Art Department installed a window display as part of the Inspire! Festival. Located on Main Street next to the brewery, the installation will be on display until March 30th. The window represents Wilson Hall and students in PS-12th. Led by Mrs. Rachel Brown, Mrs. Renee Norton & Ms. Tara Breslin-Schumacher, the display includes work by all art students.
Gallery of Art Exhibit
Emmi Leard placed second and Aubrey Payne received an honorable mention in the inaugural Pathfinders Exhibit at the Sumter Gallery of Art. They, along with eight other senior art students, will have their artwork in the gallery until April 5. The exhibit, which showcases Sumter County high schools’ senior artists, is in conjunction with the Sumter Artists Guild Winners Show as well as the annual Inspire! Festival. Students of Mrs. Rachel Brown and Ms. Tara Breslin-Schumacher, the following also have their art exhibited: Mary Claire Bearak, Ann Weathers Blankenship, Elizabeth Busch, Almira Casarez, Leslie Diaz, Mackenzie Helms, Caroline McElveen and Rhayne Owens.
Bynum & Schumacher Win Regional Art Show
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Lottie Bynum ‘25 and Logan Schumacher ‘25 are the regional winners for their drawings that were selected for the Traveling Artfields Jr. Art Exhibit at the Cheraw Arts Commission Burr Art Gallery in Cheraw. They were presented certificates and a $75 gift card to Blick Art Supplies at the exhibit’s closing reception. The January exhibit for the Pee Dee Region featured the 2023 Artfields Jr. winners art and also regional art. Both are students in the Drawing III class taught by Ms. Tara Breslin-Schumacher.
ArtFields Jr., an art competition open to students throughout South Carolina, is held in Lake City and is one of the south’s premier art competitions and festivals. The goal of the show is to honor the artists of the Southeast with a week’s worth of celebration and competition in the heart of a traditional small southern town. This year's show will be April 26 - May 4.
Leard, Payne & Thorne Win First at State Art Show
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Wilson Hall students earned seven ribbons, including three blue ribbons, at the South Carolina Independent School Association State Art Show held at The ROB in Lake City. Winning first place trophies and blue ribbons in their respective divisions were Emmi Leard ‘24 (drawing), Aubrey Payne ‘24 (sculpture), and Mary Ellen Thorne ‘26 (painting).
Emmi is a student in the Advanced Placement Art (Drawing) class and Mary Ellen is in the Drawing III class, both taught by Ms. Tara Breslin-Schumacher, and Aubrey is a student in the Advanced Placement Art (3D Sculpture) class taught by Mrs. Rachel Jones Brown ‘00.
Also recognized during the awards ceremony at the show was Logan Schumacher ‘25, who won a second place trophy and ribbon for drawing. Receiving honorable mention ribbons were Sara-Jane Bates ‘25 (ceramics), Caroline McElveen ‘24 (ceramics), and Liz Singkhonket ‘26 (drawing).
In total, 47 high school and middle students had their artwork selected for the show. Accompanying each piece was an artist statement which describes the thematic focus, ideas and subject matter, influences, and form of work of the student’s piece. Taught by Mrs. Renee Norton, 13 lower school students also had their artwork in the show.
Christmas Tree Project
Students in the 3D Art and Sculpture I classes use their knowledge of the elements and principles of design to build a 24-inch Christmas tree. In the class taught by Mrs. Rachel Brown, the students had to show experimentation and precision as well as challenge themselves in their creations which are on display in the hallway.
Barons Win 28 Ribbons at Fair Art Show
Wilson Hall art students were very successful at the Sumter County Fair Art Show, winning 28 ribbons, including seven blue ribbons. The art teachers are Mrs. Rachel Jones Brown ‘00, Mrs. Renee Norton and Mrs. Tara Breslin-Schumacher.
Winning blue ribbons for placing first in their respective divisions were the following students:
Almira Casarez ‘24 (drawing)
Addie Griffin ‘26 (pottery)
Abigail McLeod ‘29 (drawing and 2D open media)
Walker Rivers ‘30 (2D open media)
Sutton Shook ‘30 (drawing)
Anika Tarpen (painting).
The following students received second place ribbons:
Leslie Diaz ‘24 (sculpture)
Brogdon Hill ‘29 (painting)
Addison Hines ‘31 (drawing)
Emmi Leard ‘24 (painting)
Sarah Sloan Motley ‘29 (2D open media)
Elizabeth Rabon ‘30 (painting)
Logan Schumacher ‘25 (2D open media)
Liz Singkhonket ‘26 (pottery)
Emmie Williamson (2D open media).
Earning third place ribbons were the following students:
Colin Ayres ‘30 (2D open media)
Winnie Day Caughman ‘31 (2D open media)
Riley Coker ‘30 (3D open media)
Mary Katherine Dutcher ‘27 (sculpture)
Mackenzie Helms ‘24 (drawing)
Leland Jones ‘29 (drawing and 2D open media)
Stella Michaels ‘30 (2D open media)
Henry Miller ‘30 (3D open media).
The following students received fourth place ribbons:
Annabelle Branham '25 (pottery)
Mary Ellen Thorne '26 (painting)
Stirling Tindal '26 (drawing).
Set Design & Construction
Gathering on the Nash Center Stage, students in the Set Design & Construction class begin painting the benches they created for the opening scene of the spring musical, The Music Man. The class is taught by Mr. Steve Hudson, Director of Facilities, and Mrs. Tara Breslin-Schumacher, an art teacher.
Drawing I
Students in the Drawing I class learn to draw fabric with white charcoal. Taught by Mrs. Tara Breslin-Schumacher, It is one of 18 visual arts classes offered to high school students.
Set Design & Construction
Students in Set Design & Construction construct what will become part of the train car scene in the upcoming spring musical, The Music Man Jr. The class is taught by Mr. Steve Hudson, Director of Facilities, and Mrs. Tara Breslin-Schumacher, an art teacher.
Students in 3-D Art work on their self-portraits.
Students in Ceramics I practice the first hand-building technique. Art Showcase
The 12th Wilson Hall Art Showcase featured the artwork of students in preschool through twelfth grade, and each art student had at least one piece of artwork in the show which featured over 1,000 works of art (ceramics, drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures). The art teachers are Mrs. Rachel Brown, Mrs. Renee Norton & Mrs. Tara Schumacher.