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SISAL Returns to Falmouth Academy, 3/28-4/10

Small Independent Schools Arts League (SISAL) was founded in 1992 by Falmouth Academy fine arts teacher Margaret Tew Ellsworth and Publications Director Elenita Muñiz, so that students in small independent schools could have a venue for critiquing and exhibiting their art.

That first year, four independent schools sent student art in several media to be evaluated by jurists in two- and three-dimensional art and photography. Nineteen years later, some 33 independent schools make up the coalition that supports the SISAL juried show. This year 16 independent schools have signed up for the juried show:  Arlington School, Brimmer & May, Cape Cod Academy, Carroll School, Dexter-Southfield Schools, Dedham Country Day School, Fay School, Fenn School, Fessenden School, Lincoln School, Newton Country Day School, Rivers School, Roxbury Latin School, Victor School, Winsor School and Falmouth Academy.

FA expects to receive over 600 entries to be judged by a panel of jurists. The jurists this year will be Diane Heart, ceramic artist, Brewster (three-dimensional art); Mark Preu, photographer, Brewster (photography); Carl Lopes, Head, Department of Art & Technology, Barnstable High School (two-dimensional art).  Past jurists have included Rob Silvers ‘86 (inventor of the Photomosaic™), performance artist Pat Humphris, and the late author and illustrator, Edward Gorey.

There are 15 categories, divided into upper school (10-12) and lower school (7-9): oil, acrylic, watercolor, ink drawings, pencil drawings, pastel/charcoal/crayon drawings, mixed media, printmaking, graphic design, fiber arts and textile design, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry or metalsmithing, photography, and furniture. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded in each category as well as honorable mention at the discretion of the judges. There will also be Best of Show in each of the upper and lower school (chosen by all three jurists from among all the first place entries.)

Public viewing takes place Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 10, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The awards ceremony takes place Sunday at 2:00 p.m.