Top Teachers
Saturday, November 21, 1998
Name: Dawn Dvonch
Age: 47
Position: Kamehameha Schools teacher
Education: Northwestern University, UH
Pastimes: Reading
When Dawn Dvonch was 12 years old, she was fascinated by a picture of a beautiful painting in an issue of National Geographic. Passing on her passion for art
The painting, called "The Milk Maid," inspired Dvonch's passion for art. It was done by Dutch painter Jan Vermeer during the Baroque period in the mid-1600s.
"It was so lifelike and so real that it got me interested in looking at other types of artists," she said. "It's still one of my favorite paintings."Dvonch is in her tenth year teaching art history, theory and practice to freshmen and sophomores at Kamehameha Schools. Besides studio art, the course teaches students how to interpret and critique works of art, and the names and styles of artists from different cultures.
"When you learn about art, you learn about other people and yourself," Dvonch said. "And that's my goal as their teacher, ... to make it interesting enough for them so that they actually begin to think, 'Hey, this is kind of neat.' "
Donald Harvey, chairman of the school's visual arts department, said Dvonch can captivate any audience with her vast knowledge. He remembers when she gave a lecture about Vincent van Gogh to a large audience at the Honolulu Academy of Arts 10 years ago, before she was hired by Kamehameha.
"She was just really good, very lively and down-to-earth," he said. "She's really a valuable member of the department ... We're really fortunate to have her."
Shirley Iida, Star-Bulletin
