Arts

Visual Arts

The understanding and appreciation of the finest works of man's creative spirit are necessary for a complete education.

Effective instruction in the visual arts provides the student with technical skills and motivation to develop an awareness of his environment and to increase his aesthetic and cultural understanding.

The Visual Arts Curriculum organized at Briarcrest Christian Schools is both vertical and horizontal in approach. Visual Artists/Art Educators, Tonya Loyd (Houston Levee Elementary School), Sarah Lawler Clark (Middle School) and Jenna Fergus (High School) contribute their individual discipline-based curricula to formulate a balanced and age-appropriate art experience for all students.

Through the implementation of a cross-cultural and cross-curricular based approach, each instructor intentionally connects art history and art making to Math, Science, History and Writing. The visual arts are taught from a biblical perspective relating art production to art history, criticism and aesthetics.

Contact

List of 3 members.

Tonya Loyd

Art Teacher

901-765-4613

Bio
Tonya Loyd has taught Elementary Art to Houston Levee Elementary Pre-K – 5th graders at her alma mater since 2007. Tonya discovered early on in her life that she had a God–given gift and a passion for art and strives to facilitate an environment that encourages students to discover their talents and abilities as well.

She is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art and worked as a graphic designer at an international chemical company for six years. Tonya has done a variety of art in all kinds of media such as oil, acrylic, pastel, clay, paper mache, and pen & ink, but her favorite is personalized watercolor paintings.

She publishes her own work and has several limited edition prints. She has been commissioned by individuals, Mississippi State University’s Alumni Association, and Briarcrest Christian School. She recently added “Illustrator” to her list of accomplishments when she was commissioned to produce the artwork for Princess Polka Dot and Sir Learnalot, a children’s book written by Angie Sneathern and published by Westbow Press.
Sarah Clark

Teacher
Jennifer Fergus

Art Teacher

901-751-6401

Bio
Jenna Fergus has enjoyed teaching visual arts at Briarcrest Christian School since 1999. She graduated magna cum laude from The University of Memphis in 1999 with a BFA in art education. After completing her Master’s of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Union University in 2011, Jenna visited Israel for a month teaching an art camp for a boys and girls club in the city of Ramallah, Palestine. She enjoys installing her clothesline art in her spare time and has had several group and solitary shows of her paintings in the past 3 years.

The emphasis of Jenna’s MAIS degree is from Memphis College of Art in art and art education. This educational focus prepared her to formulate her current project of a webpage, conference presentations, and consultation work in the area of equipping teachers to prepare students to learn to think visually. Jenna believes visual art is a powerful tool to equip every student to connect with and utilize knowledge.

In 2015 Jenna was named Secondary Art Teacher of the Year for the State of Tennessee by the Tennessee Art Education Association.

Visual Arts Blog

BRACE

List of 3 items.

Elementary School

Elementary students ages 3-year-old Kindergarten through fifth grade are introduced to a variety of artists, art elements and principles, techniques and materials throughout the school year.

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Middle School

Briarcrest Middle School students participating in Visual Art will experience a nine-week course designed to expose them to the elements and principles of art and design through an interdisciplinary, comprehensive study of art history and art making.
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High School

Visual art at Briarcrest is all about learning the full process of making art. Creating is taught as a two-fold process: strong content, communicated through expressive and accurate composing, and careful, intentional craftsmanship.
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