The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Faculty Spotlight: Peggy Dunsworth

Faculty+Spotlight%3A+Peggy+Dunsworth
Bre Dunsworth

Displaying 11 original pieces in Town & Country’s fifth annual Art, Wine & Music Event, art teacher Peggy Dunsworth engaged in an experience that she described as totally different from her daily teaching position.

“In class, I go from student to student, helping them make their work the best it can be and giving feedback on their art. It is not about me, but about them and their work,” Dunsworth said. “As a whole, I tried to downplay the event. I don’t like to be in that kind of a spotlight. I am just an art teacher, and I felt not worthy of an art show. I do art as a passion and a release. It fills my heart. I don’t create art to sell to others.”

Retired Northeast Middle art teacher Beth Wilson asked Dunsworth to participate in the event. By accepting, Dunsworth was required to set up her own gallery in a section of the Longview Farm House on Feb. 6.

“I was asked to do this by my friend whom I would never let down, even if I didn’t think my work was worthy. She obviously saw something in my paintings that she thought would be perfect in the show,” Dunsworth said. “I knew I would have one or two walls to fill up, so I just kept grabbing art off the walls of my home.”

The following are a few of the 11 she put on display, accompanied by the memory or inspiration that Dunsworth had for it.

"The last one is the abstract 'sunset.' I was experimenting with extra canvas and trying to get the warm feeling of a sunset in a new way."
Peggy Dunsworth
“The last one is the abstract ‘Sunset.’ I was experimenting with extra canvas and trying to get the warm feeling of a sunset in a new way.”

Throughout the course of the event, Dunsworth had a buyer who was interested in her piece, “Sunset.”

“I am really awkward selling art; it is much easier for me to give it away as a gift,” Dunsworth said.  “When the buyer told me she really liked it and wanted to buy it, I said, ‘Oh I love that one too. I’m really glad you understand and like it.’ That was really an odd thing to say. I’m working on how to say thank you and non-awkward things like that.”

Overall, Dunsworth describes the experience as one that pushed her “out of [her] comfort zone,” but helped her “to see [her] art in a new way.”

“It is hard to put thoughts and emotions on a canvas, paint something you love and then have it on display. It is both a proud and scary moment for an artist,” Dunsworth said. “I would encourage students to keep showing their work, even if it is just to family and friends.  I find I get very interesting feedback when I open my art to others.  One must be brave to create and then share it with others.”

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Jacob Cupps, Editor-in-Chief
Grade: 12

Future / College Plans? Music Schools (which means being broke).

Swag level (1-10 Scale)? Kyla Hatton.

Fun Fact: I got a dumb haircut about a week ago.

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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High
Faculty Spotlight: Peggy Dunsworth