News Detail
SA Students Attend Sonoma Valley Art Museum
A morning of classes was cancelled for the freshman class so that they could attend a riveting exhibit entitled "Kara Women Speak." The exhibit has been featured all Fall at the Sonoma Valley Art Museum in downtown Sonoma.
Roy Hogle and Dusty Allen drove both school buses promptly at 8:30 am to make a private appointment with Rosemary McNeely (parent of Hannah Rose '19), who has a close affiliation with the museum, and director Margie Maynard at the museum. These two had arranged a special treat, which was to meet the artist, Jane Baldwin, and guest curator, Anne Vey. The students were allowed to wander the exhibit, which included life-sized portraits of Kara women and their personal stories. An audio tour was available featuring recordings of the women's actual voices speaking the Kara language. Jane Baldwin's beautiful, moving documentary was available for viewing in the back of the exhibit.
The Kara people live along the Omo River in Ethiopia. This river is currently threatened by a large dam, part of a government project to generate electricity and provide irrigation to foreign agro-business companies. The narratives of the women express confusion and outrage, but also courage and determination. They are set on remaining on their traditional land.
Teachers Jamie Murray, Laila McClay, and Brandon Spars wanted students to attend so that they might understand the complexity of projects that seem like good steps (the generation of electricity) but often have damaging impacts. The freshman curriculum explores the question, "How does geography shape culture?" This exhibit demonstrates both traditional and modern responses to fertile and productive rivers systems such as the Omo.
Sonoma Academy Is...
...the only private, independent, college preparatory high school in Sonoma County. On our beautiful campus nestled at the base of Taylor Mountain in Southeastern Santa Rosa, our students are able to explore their interests and passions in a rigorous and inspiring environment that develops a lifelong love of learning and prepares them for college and beyond.
Sonoma Academy admits students of any race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin, citizenship, gender or gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and tuition assistance programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
