Long before guests walked through the library doors last Tuesday, students were at work adjusting color calibrations, checking frame alignment with laser levels, and debating the perfect spacing between pieces. The evening showcased work by all visual arts students in grades 7-12, spanning three disciplines: painting and drawing, ceramics, and photography.

"Flintridge Prep treats student exhibitions professionally," says Ricardo Rodriguez, Visual Arts department chair. "The emphasis is on the complete artistic process—from creation through curation and exhibition. Students mount their own work, print photographs, frame pieces, design wall layouts, and write artist statements ."

Walking into the library, you'll see the work of Carter M. '26, a senior AP Photography student, featuring examples that explore labels placed on him and how others perceive him through symbolic objects: chopsticks holding up hair, a fly swatter covering a mouth, and headphones draping around a neck. Carter was actively involved in how his pieces were selected and displayed, ensuring the presentation itself reinforced the themes of visibility, identity, and perception central to his work.

When asked about his artistic process, Carter explains, "It's not easy to get from point A to point B. For my photography, on a screen it's going to look different from when printed, so I had to adjust the color and size. It was important for me to realize that there are a lot of steps you must take before you can have this clean result."