Homecoming, Athletics Hall of Fame, Ellis Ruley: Brought to Light

October 2018

Ellis Ruley: Brought to Light Opens at Slater

Over 100 people attended the opening of Brought to Light: Ellis Walter Ruley (1882-1959) in Norwich, Sunday, Sept. 30. The exhibition, guest curated by W. Frank Mitchell, Ph.D., Director of the Amistad Center at the Wadsworth Atheneum, and Vivian F. Zoë, Director of the Slater Memorial Museum, is sponsored by the City of Norwich Ellis Walter Ruley Commemoration Committee.

The Ellis Walter Ruley Quilt for the City of Norwich, a work inspired by the artist's life and work hangs prominently on display. On exhibition, also was the 2015 bust of Ruley by Glenn Palmedo-Smith, and a host of artifacts retrieved from the excavation of the Ruley homestead on Hammond Ave., a site recently dedicated as a memorial park in Ruley's honor. Slater's one work by Ruley "Landscape with Lions" an oil painting created with enamel house paint, joined 17 paintings on loan for the exhibition from the private collections of a variety of owners.

A big hit was "The Green Hornet" a model of Ruley's 1932 Chevrolet coupe. NFA's teacher Todd Zagurski's students in Community Design and Project Management built the model as a photo opportunity for visitors, especially children. Involved in that project were Christopher Hebert, David Kendall, and Cameron Rossi members of the Class of 2018, and current seniors Wyatt James and Angel Rosad.

Ruley 's life story, the circumstances of his mysterious death, his unique, untrained, almost primitive style, his outsider status, and the limited number of works in his oeuvre are all factors contributing to a resurgence of interest in this Norwich artist and a surge in the value of his work.

The exhibition is on display through Dec. 7.

"The Green Hornet" a model of Ruley's 1932 Chevrolet coupe. NFA teacher Todd Zagurski's students in Community Design and Project Management built the model as a photo opportunity for visitors. Pictured are Beth Armen Troeger '67 and grand daughter Stella Ostrowski. Stella is the daughter of Rebecca Troeger '94 and Michael Ostrowski '94.

"Scenes of Ellis Ruley"

English teacher Lauren Girasoli worked with a group of students to write and produce original vignettes inspired by elements of the Ellis Ruley story, especially his marginalization.

Participating in this project were seniors Cami Hawkins, Kyle (Edouine) Gumboc Angel Ladford, Eudora Poe, and Holly Rust; eleventh-graders Chelsea Avery, Malachi Brown, Jasmin Clark, Erica Crawford, Julianna Durkee, Brady Rider, Destiny Rosario, and Litzianna Ruiz; tenth-graders Paige Buchan. Skylar Buchan, Valeria Jaquez, Corinne McEntee, Isabella Morabito, Zharia Pollard, and Raven Wawrzynowicz, and ninth-grader Nichole Ahrens.

These pieces, presented to a packed audience of students in Slater, Thursday, Oct. 4, during the day explored sensitive, yet relative, topics of online bullying and racial and gender discrimination.

NFA's Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes the extraordinary and unique contributions of the Academy's student-athletes, coaches, and directors. These individuals sustain a long, proud tradition of academic, athletic, and leadership excellence in and out of competition.

The 2018 induction ceremony is 6 p.m., Friday, October 12, Slater Auditorium. Inductees are James Justice '73, Coach and Athletic Director Gary Makowicki '73, Michael DeLucia '83, Jane Ledoux Rice '84, Robert Larkham '85, Joey Kochanski Foo '99, Christopher Andrew '00, Krista Rappahahn Birnie '02, and JJ Justice '04.

After the ceremony, guests will view the new, permanent Athletic Hall of Fame display located in the Atrium. The new installation honors all current and former inductees.

The event is open to the public.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, students set up a colorful display of 22 flags representing Spanish speaking countries on the lawn in front of the Norton building.

Kaitlin Contreras '19, Jesuan Claudio Lugo '19, and Lilianna Lorenzo Concepcion '19 coordinated the display with the collaboration of other students and the NFA Diversity Department.

"We want everyone to feel involved and appreciated," said Contreras. Lorenzo added, "we try to educate the NFA community about the countries and their contribution. We want to make all people with a Hispanic background proud of where they're from and their culture."

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates Hispanic and Latino American Culture, The flags will be displayed through October 15.

An Annual Tradition Continues

All are welcome to join fellow alumni at the Homecoming pre-game tailgating event on Saturday, October 13, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Grab your friends and family, bring your favorite food, and wear your red and white! Tailgating spaces are available on the Shattuck field.

Haven't been to campus lately? Tours begin at 10:30 a.m. at Latham Science & Information Center. Stay for the afternoon and watch your Wildcat football team take on the Newtown Nighthawks at 1:00 p.m.

More information is available at nfaschool.org/homecoming.