Good Day Dugan!

This year, Gilman welcomes Ms. Madeleine Dugan to the art department as our new sculpture and photography teacher. Ms. Dugan is highly qualified for the position, graduating from the University of Glasgow before going on to receive her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Material and Craft Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. Furthermore, she has contributed to art exhibitions worldwide and has extensive experience in art history and curatorial practice. She has served in research positions at multiple distinguished institutions, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. 

On her decision to come to Gilman, she said, "I am very familiar with all-boys schools, and I believe in their mission. My mom taught at an all-boys school for 21 years, and my little brother went there for 14 years, so I know how important it is to be in a space where you can just be yourself and feel empowered.” Furthermore, Ms. Dugan is no stranger to the community and has had family working at Gilman for years. As for her opinion of the Art department, she said, “ I am so impressed with the school’s art department. The artwork hanging in the hallways is technically skilled, conceptually strong, and beautifully done. You can tell that Mr. Connolly cares a lot about his students and their artistic growth, and I want to do the same with my own classes.” In turn, she is especially looking forward to seeing the artwork her students produce this year.

Moreover, Ms. Dugan is an artist herself. Discussing her favorite piece, she commented, “I once created a porcelain tableware set for my grandmother as a surprise gift for her. She is always the one making food for everyone else, so I wanted to create something where I could express my gratitude to her and also spend quality time with her…after the set was complete, I used the set to bake her a pie and serve her coffee.”

In her free time, Ms. Dugan enjoys experimenting with new art forms and crafts as well as listening to podcasts. Speaking to her experimental, exploratory attitude towards the arts, she learned to weld and perform lost-wax metal casting, an ancient technique used to create highly precise metalwork. We at The News are reassured in the knowledge that this year's art department will be strengthened by the presence of Ms. Dugan, and we hope that the Gilman Community will join us in giving her a warm welcome and invite her with open arms into our community!