Sustainuary: Visiting Artist Susan Hoenig

Dorothy Lee '26 (145th News Editor) and Yvonne Chen '28 (News Associate) in News | January 17, 2025

Last Friday, the Sustainability Council (SusCo) hosted the Sustainability Artist Workshop in collaboration with the Hutchins Galleries and visiting artist Susan Hoenig. This event marks the beginning of a series of upcoming workshops for “Sustainuary,” an annual Lawrenceville tradition which seeks to raise awareness about sustainability through various events across the months of January and February. Susan Hoenig’s collection, titled “Rhythms of the Land,” is currently on display in the Hutchins Galleries.

Hoenig’s artist’s statement that accompanied her exhibit explained, “‘Rhythms of the Land’ engages the viewer to see the relationship between humans and the environment that sustains them.” Through her artwork, Hoenig seeks to illustrate the connection between humans and their environment, as well as address the impact of ecological issues on its inhabitants.

According to SusCo member Gloria Yu ’26, the Sustainuary Artist Workshop focused on demonstrating appreciation for the environment and promoting sustainable practices. “We’re essentially trying to promote environmental consciousness throughout the student body,” Yu said. Having occurred during Wellness Week, the event also incorporated the “Environmental” and “Social” aspects of Lawrenceville’s new Wellness Wheel, bringing together the school community by “promoting sustainability through art,” Yu explained.

During the event, Hoenig provided reusable materials such as magazines, popsicle sticks, and stencils for students to use. Focusing on connecting art with nature, students created 3D sculptures, paintings, collages, and other forms of art using sustainable resources. Yu explained how Hoenig mentored participants throughout their creative process, while providing them with what Yu described as a “unique vision” to her art.

Participant Clara Khabbaz ’26 described the event as “a nice way to relax [and] spend some time with [her] friends,” even gaining an “increased awareness about how art can connect to sustainability.” She noted that beyond efforts to protect biodiversity, reusable materials can also promote sustainability. Furthermore, Khabbaz observed how art can be used as a platform to raise awareness about sustainability. Not only was she able to appreciate Hoenig’s artwork, she enjoyed seeing “different students [making] so many different types of art.”

Reflecting on the workshop, Mila Cooper ’26 shared, “It was a really enjoyable and relaxing experience…there was a lot of emphasis placed on exploring diverse wildlife in a fun way.” To Cooper, the event offered an opportunity to engage with sustainability through the visual arts and to “try something new.” She believes that she gained a deeper understanding of her interactions with the environment and a greater appreciation for the wildlife around her through the workshop.

"I think everyone coming together to have fun and do art [on Friday] was really nice,” Yu concluded, “it shows that sustainability is really present in our everyday lives.” As part of their initiative to promote environmental consciousness, SusCo will continue to host events, namely the Trashion Show and the Sustainability Open House.

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Sustainuary: Visiting Artist Susan Hoenig