Visual Arts

Congratulations to our talented Viewpoint artists and writers, who received top honors in the 2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a national competition recognizing outstanding student creativity in visual arts and writing. This year, Viewpoint students earned a total of 62 regional awards across photography, ceramics, sculpture, drawing and painting, and writing.

In the Scholastic Writing Awards, nine Upper School and two Middle School students were recognized, earning multiple Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions across categories including poetry, short story, flash fiction, and screenwriting.

In the visual arts, Viewpoint students earned a total of 43 regional awards. Notably, freshman Madison Kim ’29 received an impressive 10 awards across multiple disciplines, including several Gold Keys in drawing and painting.

Across both writing and visual arts, Gold Key recipients will advance to the national level for final judging, with results announced on March 25. National Medalists will be honored at a special ceremony in New York City in June.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see our students honored in the Scholastic Art Awards across such a wide range of classes,” said Nell Yates, Visual Arts Department Chair. “It really reflects the energy, curiosity, and creativity that’s happening throughout our programs.”

Established in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the nation’s most prestigious recognition program for student artists and writers in Grades 7-12. Alumni include renowned artists like Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, and John Baldessari, as well as acclaimed writers, filmmakers, and actors such as Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Ken Burns, and Lena Dunham. 

Each year, the competition grants more than $1 million in scholarships and prizes to young creatives.

Congratulations to this year’s Viewpoint Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners!

Gold Key Winners

Taiyang Dragon Chang ’30 – Poetry
Yanxi Nicky Li ’28 – Poetry
Daphne Huffman ’26 – Poetry; Screenplays & Scripts
Tanner Tyminski ’26 – Photography
Anna Lee ’26 – Photography
Shane Anderson ’27 – Photography
Nofar Tsvi ’26 – Photography
Ryder Kabakoff ’27 – Photography
Xinji Ding ’27 – Drawing and Painting
Madison Kim ’29 – Drawing and Painting (multiple works)

Silver Key Winners

Ella Mizrahi ’30 – Poetry
Lara AlSaadi ’29 – Poetry
Phoebe Donlon ’28 – Poetry
Kyle Martin ’27 – Short Story
Emjay Peck ’26 – Photography
Collen Altmann ’26 – Photography
Anna Lee ’26 – Photography
Ella Haim ’27 – Ceramics
Madison Kim ’29 – Ceramics
Allison Kim ’26 – Drawing and Painting
Riley Brown ’26 – Poetry, Short Story, Plays & Scripts

Honorable Mention Winners

Alex Darway ’29 – Poetry (2x)
Phoebe Donlon ’28 – Poetry
Ella Haim ’27 – Short Story
Luna Kuhn ’26 – Flash Fiction
Daphne Huffman ’26 – Poetry and Short Story
Hudson Furgatch ’26 – Photography (2x)
Collen Altmann ’26 – Photography (2x)
Casey Bernstein ’26 – Photography
Chace Garner ’26 – Photography
Sebastian Safahi ’26 – Photography
Mishka Rathi ’26 – Photography (2x)
Evelyn Wright ’26 – Photography (3x)
Sebastian Yanez ’26 – Photography (3x)
Ryder Kabakoff ’27 – Photography
Lucas Argano-Rush ’27 – Ceramics
Sadie Kieffer ’26 – Sculpture
Xinji Ding ’27 – Drawing and Painting
Leah Lekht ’26 – Drawing and Painting
Noah Oduwole ’26 – Drawing and Painting
Riley Brown ’26 – Plays & Scripts

The Ceramics Studio is typically filled with students immersed in a wide range of creative projects throughout the school year. On Tuesday, January 27, that creative energy extended beyond the classroom, as faculty, staff, and students gathered for the annual Empty Bowls Open Studio to craft ceramic bowls in support of a meaningful cause.

“Empty Bowls is a worldwide community event that different art studios and organizations host,” said Nell Yates, ceramics teacher and visual arts department chair. “The whole mission is using local art to support food banks and to support this idea of outreach for hunger and for people who are food insecure.”

Empty Bowls is a global grassroots movement of artists addressing hunger, with events hosted by schools, potters’ guilds, and studios around the world. Yates brought the initiative to Viewpoint eight years ago, weaving it into the ceramics curriculum as a service-learning project. Each ceramics student creates at least one bowl, and often several, as part of their coursework, while also reflecting on what it means to use art as a form of service.

“It’s not just about their ability to make a bowl,” Yates said. “They do a reflection and think about what it means to give art in a different way. To have art benefit people they haven’t even met and to understand this idea of art for service is a whole new concept for them.”

In addition to ceramics students, the school’s CORE (Community OutReach for Everyone) program plays a key role in bringing the event to life. CORE students earn service hours by helping sell tickets, scoop ice cream, and support event logistics, while also gaining exposure to service in a creative context.

“Service can look all different ways,” Yates said. “Making art isn’t necessarily something students would link to being an act of service, so it’s powerful for them to see that connection.”

Sadie Kieffer ’26, a board leader of CORE, said the Open Studio highlights how widely the event brings people together.

“I think this aspect of the open studio is so wonderful to see, everybody from the community coming together,” Kieffer said. “Alumni, parents, faculty, usually some admin will come. And also people who aren’t necessarily super involved in the arts get a chance to do something fun for an afternoon. And it’s for a good cause.”

The Empty Bowls project culminates in a campus-wide ice cream social and fundraiser, scheduled for March 17. Tickets will be sold in the two weeks leading up to the event, with all proceeds benefiting West Valley Food Pantry. 

For those who were unable to attend the Open Studio on January 27, Yates encourages community members to reach out.

“It’s all I want in the world for people to come and feel like they can try it,” she said. “Especially if they come with a student who does ceramics, it’s so meaningful to have that role reversal and let students teach something they care about.”

On Tuesday, November 12, Viewpoint School unveiled “The Art of the Poppy,” its first all-school art installation, created to honor veterans and commemorate Veterans Day. Faculty, students, and honored guests gathered around the vibrant field of poppies in a moving display of unity and gratitude for the sacrifices of those who served.

The event took place at the Sky Trail entrance, bridging Viewpoint’s Middle and Upper School campuses, where more than 1,000 hand-crafted ceramic poppies are on display. Created by students, faculty, and staff from every grade level, each poppy represents a unique tribute to a veteran, collectively forming a lasting symbol of remembrance throughout our school.

“I am so proud of ‘The Art of the Poppy’ and the way it has united our community,” said Nell Yates, Visual Arts Department Chair. “This installation represents the creative talents of our students and staff, each honoring a special veteran in their lives. It’s a powerful way for us to come together and pay tribute to those who have protected our freedoms.”

Head of School Mark McKee opened the ceremony, expressing pride in the community’s dedication to honoring veterans. Following his opening remarks, Middle School student Eden Flachs ’29 introduced the Upper School Concert Choir, inviting the audience to stand as the choir performed a moving rendition of the National Anthem. Afterward, Brendan Rubinstein ’29 led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

“As we honor our veterans, we reflect on the values they embody: service, integrity, and community, values we strive to instill in our students,” said Mark McKee, Head of School. “Veterans Day reminds us of the sacrifices made to protect our freedoms, inspiring us to nurture future leaders committed to making a positive impact. It is my hope that ‘The Art of the Poppy’ will serve as a lasting symbol of our gratitude for generations to come.”

Introduced by Lower School student Alaya Purnomo ’32, City of Calabasas Mayor Alicia Weintraub took the stage, shortly after to present a proclamation, recognizing Viewpoint’s meaningful tribute. The event drew esteemed guests, including City Councilmen David Shapiro and Ed Albrecht, and Kate Vega, District Representative for California Congresswoman Julia Brownley.

Upper School student and Eagle Scout candidate William Chapin read the poem “In Flanders Fields,” and Viewpoint recognized employee veterans Kathy Carle, Connor Ferreira, Laurie Golnick, Dean Kalogris, David Kiser, and Clemente Nava, who came forward to plant the final poppies in the field. Nell Yates then performed the ribbon cutting, officially opening “The Art of the Poppy” installation, which will serve as a lasting tribute to honor veterans for years to come.

For more on "The Art of the Poppy," read the Daily News article here and watch the ABC7 Los Angeles news clip below. 

Our canyon was filled with music, laughter and joy on Saturday, June 1, at Viewpoint’s annual Arts Fest event. Community members of all ages were inspired by the creativity and talent among our TK-12 students in the areas of music, film, art, theatre, and dance. 

Founded in 2018 by Music Department Chair Dr. Kristin Herkstroeter, Arts Fest was created with the vision of bringing together all students in a single inclusive event to showcase a year's worth of artistic achievements from all disciplines across campus.

“This is a great culminating event that allows us to celebrate everything we do in the Arts without tying our performance to a specific holiday,” explained Dr. Kristin Herkstroeter, Music Department Chair and creator of Arts Fest. She emphasized, “All of our arts start in Primary School, planting seeds early on in music, visual art, dance, and theater productions. From there, we continuously nurture and grow our students' artistic talents.”

This year’s Arts Fest offered an afternoon filled with music in the canyon, visual art displays and demos, scenes from this year's musical and theater productions, screenings of award-winning student films, and a showcase of the dance program. Entrance to the event was free, with all activities taking place in the Middle and Upper School indoor and outdoor campus areas. A variety of food, including savory and sweet options, were available for purchase.

"Arts Fest is a highlight of the school year for me as a parent of a performer at Viewpoint. It's thrilling to see my son, Julian ’25, engage in various artistic activities the school provides space and encouragement for,” said Joan Dans, Viewpoint Parent. “My favorite part is rushing from one performance space to another, out of breath but excited, knowing my son is happy doing what he loves with friends. I'm grateful to Viewpoint for fostering such a vibrant arts community."

As this school year draws to a close, events like Arts Fest spotlight our students' accomplishments and the unwavering support of the Viewpoint community.