Mayfield's renowned working artist, Paul T., opens his studio to students
In an unforgettable field trip, AP Photography students toured the rustic Silver Lake studio of an award-winning, internationally recognized artist—Mayfield’s own Conservatory for the Arts teacher, Paul Tzanetopoulos.
Inside his longtime hillside studio and home, “Mr. T,” as students call him, showed students some of his original intermedia work, paintings, sculpture and light installations and talked about what his art means to him.
His passion as a working artist and nurturing way of encouraging students make a strong impression on those in his photography, multimedia and Conservatory classes.
"We have a definite appreciation for all he does and his work has a big impact on us,” said Georgia Vagim ’18, who has studied photography with Mr. Tzanetopoulos for four years. “He is a super talent and I think we all feel honored to have him as a teacher.”
Throughout his decades-long career in the fine art and public art realms, Mr. Tzanetopoulos’s work has been extensively exhibited and he has been commissioned to create more than 30 public art projects.
When working on a public art project he said he feels a deep responsibility to collaborate with those who have commissioned him.
“I better do something that people like,” he told students. Among his most renowned public work is his award-winning kinetic light installation of colorful glass towers at the entrance of Los Angeles International Airport.
When he is focused on his own work, his approach is different.
“My only responsibility is: Do I like it?” he said. “And it needs to do something. It has to have meaning... Sometimes I have worked on something for three years and if it doesn’t work, I never have to show it to anyone.”
Students said they felt privileged to share this up-close tour and evocative conversation inside their teacher’s workspace.
“Seeing his studio just really made us feel connected to him in a great way,” Georgia said.
When showing students his intricate paintings of plaids on layers of translucent silk, Mr. Tzanetopoulos spoke of the important research behind this ongoing work. The Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art owns one of his Tartan Plaid series in its Andersen Collection.
“These aren’t just plaids, they mean something very important," he said. “They represent a family, a time in history.” Mr. Tzanetopoulos noted that the original plaids were created by women who also invented the weaving process for them.
His experience as a working artist “makes it all so relevant to us,” Georgia said. “When he looks at my photos and talks about the lights, perspective and colors, I know that he cares.”
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Established in 1931, Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, CA is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women grades 9-12. Noted for its rigorous academic program, which includes 28 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, Mayfield’s curriculum is underscored by a philosophy of educating the “whole child,” which also encourages commitment to and excellence in the arts, athletics, community service and spiritual growth. The nurturing environment at Mayfield Senior School allows each student to flourish in an atmosphere of personal attention.
