A Not-Quite-Narwhal Kind of Gallery

KME and 1MK have been working on a shared art project that began, fittingly, with a story about belonging.

A few weeks ago, 1MK parent Brianne Garcia (P'37)—a contemporary, self-taught artist based in New York City whose vibrant abstract work explores color as a language—joined the Lower School for Meeting for Worship during LGBTQ History Month. Their message invited students to celebrate both similarities and differences, and to notice how much of who we are can be seen on the outside…and how much lives quietly within.

That theme carried into the classroom through a read-aloud of Not Quite Narwhal by Jessie Sima. In the book, Kelp is raised by narwhals but feels different: his tusk is shorter, and he’s not the strongest swimmer. When a current carries him to the surface, he meets unicorns and discovers he doesn’t have to choose just one identity—he can be both a land and sea creature. It’s a gentle, joyful story about self-discovery, identity, and making room for the whole of who you are.

Inspired by Kelp’s journey, KME and 1MK artists created pieces that explore identity—both visible and invisible—through color, shape, and personal detail. The shared display demonstrates what students have in common and what is special about each of them: everyone begins with a silhouette, yet each artwork is entirely unique.

On Monday, December 15, the work culminated in an official “gallery opening” outside the classrooms, opened by Brianne, who returned to share the story with both groups and help launch the exhibition. And because a gallery opening should feel like a gallery opening, the day included a dark-curtain slow reveal, a read-aloud of the sequel (Perfectly Pegasus), and a menu featuring sophisticated hors d’oeuvres (school snacks) plus bubbles (sparkling grape juice).