Callie Connors '10 and LS Art Teacher Meghan Cangi Present "Colors Collide"

EA alumna Callie Connors '10 and Lower School Art Teacher Meghan Cangi kicked off the 2025-26 Crawford Campus Center Gallery season with Colors Collide, a vibrant dual exhibition.

United by their bold use of color and abstraction, these Philadelphia-based artists each bring a distinct visual language that celebrates rhythm, form, and the expressive possibilities of paint and collage. Together, their works create a lively dialogue—color colliding in unexpected ways, where Meghan's rhythmic layering meets Callie's distilled landscapes.

The exhibition, which was on display from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, invited viewers to step into a space where imagination, process, and play converge.

"I was really excited when Meghan suggested exhibiting together," Callie said. "I love her expressive use of color and collage, and felt our work would complement each other. I think we are both inspired by the shapes, colors, and abstract qualities of nature and botanical imagery, and our bold, saturated palettes work well together."

Meghan echoed the sentiment, noting how Callie's "bold use of color and command of shape in her still lifes, florals, and landscapes" drew her in. "My own artwork is more organic and intuitive, rooted in bold color and movement. Together, I felt the contrast and balance between our approaches would spark an exciting dialogue in the Gallery."

For Meghan, the exhibition represents a continuation of her intuitive approach to art-making. Her process begins with playful exploration—fragments of painted papers, messy mats, and found objects are woven together into layered compositions that pulse with rhythm and energy. "Each collage carries traces of playful exploration, reassembled into layered compositions that pulse with rhythm and energy," she said. "For me, it's about transforming everyday marks into vibrant abstractions and celebrating the beauty of the process itself."

Callie, meanwhile, draws inspiration from her everyday surroundings, capturing small, personal moments through expressive mark-making. Influenced by 19th-century French painters and the intimist movement, her work emphasizes the intimacy of daily life infused with bold color and abstraction.

Both artists credit their EA experiences as foundational in shaping their creative paths. Meghan notes that the vibrancy and curiosity of her students often make their way into her work, while Callie fondly recalls the lessons she learned during her EA days. "Mr. [David] Sigel was a fantastic mentor and educator and validated my early hopes of being an artist," Callie said. "We focused on learning the foundations of observation and were given the time, space, and materials to explore. Participating in group critiques taught me to think deeply about my own and my peers' work, as well as how to take feedback, which is invaluable for any career. I still carry the lessons and words of wisdom with me from that formative time!"

Colors Collide not only celebrates color, shape, and form, but also the artistic process itself. Meghan hopes students and visitors take away an appreciation for how art evolves. "I hope they see that so much of art lies in the process of making it, and that everyone has an artistic voice and a personal response to art," she said.

"I also hope [the exhibition] gave students a moment of pause in their busy day, made them happy, and maybe even encouraged them to pick up a paint brush or try something new!" Callie said.