FieldAR2023OnlineAll11.13 - Magazine - Page 4
impact
impa
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Honoring
Our
Past
and
Celebrating
Our
Future
In September 2022, the entire student body and faculty came together
to kick of the yearlong 50th anniversary celebration.
Field's founder, Elizabeth Ely, knew that education should always meet the moment. She envisioned a school
where organized "fields" of knowledge could be taught in small classroom settings that emphasized dialogue,
analytic thinking, and more significant lessons on how young people could grow to become generous,
responsible, self-knowing adults. Her vision came to fruition
in 1972, when Field opened its doors to 44 students above
the Regina Dry Cleaners on the corner of Connecticut Avenue
and R Street in Washington, DC.
Honoring a half century of learning and growth, we celebrated
Field at 50 during the 2022-23 school year. This yearlong
celebration recognized the commitment and contributions of
so many over the past 50 years. Embedded in honoring
our history was looking forward to our shared future and
possibilities. After 50 years, our spirit of curiosity, intellectual
engagement, and inclusivity still amplify our classrooms and
hallways today. We take care of each other and support
individual and community growth. We meet the moment with
creativity, resilience, and innovation.
To commemorate the yearlong celebration of Field at 50
and Field's commitment to the arts, ten students in Jenni
Helm's mural elective designed and created an expansive
mural, embracing the essence of Field—Then and Now!
Students reflected on what it meant for Field to turn 50—
where we began and where we are today. The design
came from seeing an image of Field's campus on
Wyoming Avenue (1994-2002) and combining it with the
current Field campus on Foxhall Road. Students took
inspiration from local artist Joseph Craig English, due to
his vibrant use of color and simplicity of design. The
mural took six months to complete and is currently on
display in the Cafritz House.