What do plaques mean to the different demographics of Middlesex, and why do we make them?
Photo by Edwin E. Luciano
Karen VanCleef isn’t new to the arts as they have been crucial to her life ever since her discovery of them. But, as the new Middlesex Plaque Director, VanCleef had to adjust to woodworking. Having just a year of experience, she now takes the responsibility left behind by Darby McNally: maintaining Middlesex’s best tradition.
To her, plaques represent each student’s individuality, capturing this school’s story from the beginning to present day. She believes plaques are a window into somebody’s world. Even if you didn’t know them, plaques serve to peer into someone’s experience. Like walking into a museum, you don’t know the artist, or why they made the art. It’s up to you to learn.
The founder of Middlesex saw importance in manual art, starting the tradition in the Terry Room. This is why VanCleef feels wood carving is a necessity as everyone should leave behind a mark to honor the school’s history, regardless of their interests or beliefs.
Darby McNally had been the plaque director for more than 20 years, getting to know many of the students behind the work abundantly spread around Middlesex. To her, plaques are a permanent mark. At someone’s point in life, they may be Middlesex’s best actor, but eventually, someone else will gain that title. Unlike a title, a plaque is a permanent medium to showcase your worldview and experiences. Plaques showcase the connections of family, close friends, history, and can even commemorate the deceased.
Photo by Edwin E. Luciano
David Andrysiak died of brain cancer in 2019 in the midst of his senior year, and his peers memorialized him through a plaque. Please, read his obituary, it is available online by simply searching his name.
Photo by Edwin E. Luciano
Today’s students are excited to continue this long standing tradition. Martin Erath is a Senior from Panama He is an astounding athlete representing Cross Country as one of its captains and an avid academic interested in both environmental science and Chinese. As a senior, working on wood carving has made Martin greatly appreciate the hard work and intricate story behind every plaque. Even though his woodworking classes are just starting, Martin already has an idea for his own plaque. He plans to carve a scenic mountain representing the Panamanian countryside with personal details blended in, one being a signature utilizing his Chinese name (沐阳) given to him by his Chinese teacher of 3 years, Mrs. Li. Martin has chosen to utilize his plaque to pay homage to his home, culture, and teachers.
Photo by Edwin E. Luciano
Kimberley Guzman Flores is a Senior from New York. She is an avid wrestler, CoHead of SOL, and an artist. To her, plaques are a versatile tradition promoting student expression. Kimberley is ecstatic to create a plaque. She enjoys the class and sees it as a fantastic opportunity for students to show a more profound side of themselves. Similarly, although her woodworking classes just began, Kimberly already has a vision for her design. She plans to carve a meaningful quote from father which has helped her at Middlesex (the quote wasn’t shared with me, as she hopes to speak about the quote during a potential chapel speech). Kimberly hopes that the quote will inspire future students.
Photo by Edwin E. Luciano
All of these different people harbor different beliefs on what plaques are: whether it be the belief plaques are a glimpse into someones world, a showcase of the world’s changing times, a physical marker made through hard work and intricate stories, or a piece of art which showcases the deeper and unknown sides of people. These students are a mere fraction of the hundreds of different interpretations on what plaques are to Middlesex.
VanCleef puts it best: the founder of Middlesex thought manual art was important, so he implemented plaques, that’s where the tradition came from and that’s why we make them. Traditions contribute to a sense of belonging and comfort, and the tradition of plaque at Middlesex does this well.
Edwin E. Luciano
Indresh Chandel