Paul Banevicius, Art Department Chair -- January, 2015 (seen at right in his early days)

When did you start teaching? When did you know that that was what you wanted to do?

When I graduated from college, I had no idea what to do. I just knew that I wanted to do something connected to making art. I got a six-month position as a traveling art teacher in Newfoundland and discovered that I really liked teaching kids about the creative process.

Where were you teaching before Berkshire? Did you teach anywhere else?

After Newfoundland, I was hired by Salisbury School and discovered the wonderful world of independent schools. During my five years at Salisbury, I fell in love with this part of New England. Even though I then taught for a dozen years at a day school near Boston, I knew that I wanted to return to the beautiful Berkshires someday.

Did you have another profession before teaching? What was it? 

I’ve always been a teacher, but if I did have a different career, it would be as a cartoonist!

What brought you to Berkshire? 

One day, I received a phone call from Mike Dalton, who was then Dean of Students. We had worked together at Salisbury School and were still in touch. He let me know that Berkshire was looking to hire a new Art Department Chair, someone to help build up the arts program. After 12 years in Boston suburbia, I jumped at the chance to move back out here.

What is your specialty, personally? Which courses are your favorites to teach and why?

I love teaching photography here, seeing students’ work evolve from boring snapshots to original works of art. I also love sculpture and installation art, as well as cartooning.

How long have you been here? Why have you stayed? 

This is my fifteenth year at Berkshire, which officially makes me an old-timer. Watching the Arts program grow and excel over the years, along with so much else here, has been incredibly exciting and gratifying. I’ve also enjoyed sending both my daughters to Berkshire as students.

How would you describe your teaching philosophy?

I’m not sure if this is a philosophy, but I want my students to experiment and take risks when creating art. If they fail enough, they will eventually create something unique and wonderful.

Could you tell us some of your goals at Berkshire for this year and beyond - for you and your students?

I hope to continue making the Arts at Berkshire stronger and more exciting. We are introducing a sculpture elective next year, and I’d love to see us develop a Visiting Artists program for the School.

How do you keep things interesting – for you and for your students?

I like to have active classes, and we go on lots of field trips. Usually they are quick trips to nearby shooting locations, such as a local junkyard, a farm, the supermarket and a nursery. But I also take my advanced students to cities such as New York and Albany.

Tell us a little bit about your family. 

My daughters Merit and Dalia have grown up on the Berkshire campus. Merit graduated last spring and is now at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland. She fell in love with Theater while at Berkshire. Dalia is a fourth former here and is a very talented photographer. I keep hoping that she’ll take my photography class someday.

Finally, can you tell us something about you that might surprise your students? 

Even though I live right here on campus, I own an old house just a mile down the road. I love renovating and restoring old houses and have been working on my farmhouse for almost 10 years. I’m still nowhere close to being finished!