20. Dalton Original Minds Scholars

Section of David Macaulay’s library mural drawn during his residency as a Dalton Original Mind Scholar in 2009-2010.
Whether creating artwork, poetry or simply inspiring students with their presence, Dalton’s Original Minds Scholars infused the curriculum with creative inspiration. Each Scholar brought their distinctive voice to their interactions with faculty and students, designing experiences specific to our community.

Contemporary artist, Sarah Sze, a 2003 MacArthur Fellow known for her innovative sculpture and installation art, spent her 2003–2004 residency, introducing students to her vision of site-specific assemblages. Students gained an inside perspective on her creation of The Triple Point of Water installation at the Whitney Museum. Fourth grade students then created a large assemblage installation in the lobby, combining their individual works constructed from found and recycled materials into a massive conglomerate piece.

Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Natasha Tretheway, in residence from 2006-2007, introduced a broad audience of faculty and students to the power of poetry to express the complexities of combining the personal and the historical in poetry. She worked with second and fourth grade classes and shared her work with high school creative writing and poetry classes. That year, students created the Dalton Poetry Club and to sponsor a Middle School/High School poetry reading.

Caldecott-winning author and illustrator, David Macaulay, Original Mind Scholar during 2009–2010, discussed process and exploration during his residency. In his monthly visits to Dalton, Macaulay collaborated with students and faculty to explore new ways to use drawing as an investigative process. For this exciting “Year of the Sketchbook,” students and faculty each received sketchbooks to try their hand at drawing.
—Rob Meredith, Art teacher emeritus

Back