Art is an integral part of any community; it bonds people, acts as a way to express oneself, and often functions as a miraculous method to connect the past to the present. (Think murals from days past… Wow! They really had hands living in those caves. Just like us!) With the opening of the new art hallway, just off the main rotunda, students and teachers alike had thoughts regarding the new, albeit still under construction, space to learn and create in.

As it goes, a straightforward approach is often best, and with that, the opening question of how students and staff felt, simply put, about the new art hallway.

“It still has got the fresh construction feel, but it’s already better than the LEM; the LEM had run its course,” said Ceramics student Brady Sanford (‘26).

“Cold, not lived-in yet, very minimalist, it doesn’t give art room vibes. I want to be able to walk in and be inspired,” Ceramics student Haley Gee (‘26) had to say regarding the new space, in contrast.

It’s said that comparison is the thief of joy, and the interviewees had plenty to share regarding the differences between the new construction and the old LEM.

“The new rooms definitely have less character, because they haven’t had those years to build that character,” Sanford said.

 “The LEM is a sentimental favorite since it saw so many years of creativity. But we were outgrowing the space and had to deal with regular, inexplicable water leaks, cockroaches, and more,” Drawing teacher Mrs. Scully had to say about the two and the change that came.

With new spaces come new opportunities, and the question was therefore posed: Did the new spaces for education cause an uptick in student productivity? 

“I feel like it affects my productivity, you don’t see other peoples’ work to feel inspired by,” Gee explained.

“I don’t know if I’ve noticed a change in productivity, but my students have been incredible, rolling with some huge and fundamental changes mid-semester,” Mrs. Scully had to say about her students.

There has been much to discuss about the new building in its entirety, as the finished-and-ongoing construction is likely the biggest thing to happen to this school in a very long time. Construction workers roam the hallways, Seniors have to find their classes anew, and teachers have to redecorate and refurbish their rooms. Change is here, and it is up to the students of Thomas to make this space their own once again.

“The Art Alley is going to be an amazing way to bring art to the masses, and I am so appreciative of my students’ positivity and all the new space we get to make our own!” Mrs. Scully expressed about the upcoming years.