By James ’27
At the Harvard-Westlake Upper Campus, there are a number of artworks that help bring the campus to life and make it special. These pieces are, in my opinion, one of the more unique things about the school, albeit often overlooked.
As you walk onto the Upper School campus you will see a large glass sculpture, rippling like waves, to your right. Despite its size, it almost blends in with the woodsy environment because of its naturalistic form. It is an abstract piece, and students are often puzzled by it. Its title, however, clears things up: Sapere Aude. Students who take Latin may know this phrase, which translates to “dare to know.” For me, this title exemplifies the spirit of the school; “dare” evokes hard work and pushing against fears and constraints. Although doing homework and taking tests might not feel as dramatic as the glossy sheets of Sapere Aude, we do work very hard at this school: I often push myself to finish up my homework, even when I’m tired, I meet with my math teacher to go over a concept when I could just eat lunch with my friends, I shiver during my diving practice as I wait my turn to attempt a backflip half-twist. Why do I “dare” to do these things? Because I, and most students at HW, really do care about learning and recognize the opportunities that being educated and having discipline will bring through life. We dare, because we know it is worth it. Now, this interpretation may not be what the artist of Sapere Aude intended, but it is the message that I feel when I see the sculpture every morning.
Mounted on Chalmers Hall, the math and cafeteria building, there is another glass sculpture, this one high upon the building instead of in the ground. It is a pair of bright butterfly wings, seeming to fly above the students and teachers on the quad. Because of its height, this artwork often goes unnoticed, but it is certainly worth noticing because of its uplifting nature. Its bright colors evoke feelings of opportunity and hope, as well as joy and laughter. To me, this artwork represents the lighthearted moments and fun in each school day. Greeting a senior I met in my American Playwrights Directed Study, running a race on the track with my friends during lunch just for fun (none of us do track), getting ice cream in the cafeteria on a hot day. Perhaps the sculpture was installed high up to showcase how this kind of daily joy is always looming, always present and to look forward to.
Lastly, in Seaver, a building mostly used for history, there is a variety of memorabilia relating to the history of the school, including a portrait of the old “headmaster,” historical athletic awards students won, and on the second floor, pictures of Harvard and Westlake students in the olden days, wearing extravagant outfits at dances, and posing for a gymnastics team photograph. These artifacts give me a glimpse of what the school used to be like, but more importantly, they remind me that through time and communities, we all have a lot in common. As I see a teenager snickering in the background of one of the 1940s photographs, I think of my friend who has the same smile.
These artworks often go unremarked upon and they are not the campus attributes that admissions representatives and fellow student ambassadors usually point out. But to me, they are important because they are what give Harvard-Westlake its character and make it feel like home.
