Erika Molyneux offered more than just a class in digital photography this semester at Sacred Hearts Academy, where she teaches art.

The introductory course for high school girls reflects a shift in curriculum, wherein traditional courses are gradually being replaced with collaborative learning blocks that cross disciplines. As part of the New World Order, the final project of the course was a collaborative effort to put on a full-fledged art exhibition “;from concept to completion.”;

“;From the theme to the venue to fundraising the opening reception, I had the students handle everything so they could see the planning involved in an exhibition,”; Molyneux says.

Her 19 students decided on the theme of “;Black and White,”; also the exhibit title. Molyneux says students kept it open-ended. Some works were presented in black and white, though that was not necessarily a format. As a theme, the girls used the concept of black and white to examine morality, ethnicity and opposites.

THE STUDENTS broke up into five committees. The networking group sought out a venue for the show and discussed their project with artists to garner advice on presenting their works. They also marketed the show, holding interviews with the school newspaper and other media. Public relations wrote up press releases. The selection committee set up ever-evolving guidelines for show images. Design created posters and invitations for the show and was responsible for installation. The opening committee headed up fundraising, earning $110 for pupu and lei by recycling.

“;It was more work for me than doing it myself, because the same old problems of group work still existed,”; Molyneux said of the universal problem of a few doing the work for many. “;The most difficult was keeping them motivated.”;

But all's well that ends well. On opening night, the girls and exhibit visitors were all smiles. Each photographer gave an artist's talk amid 97 professional-looking mounted images before family and friends enjoying pupu.

“;Just like them, I was ecstatic,”; Molyneux said. “;The final product was really good. It was a ton of work, but families were very appreciative.”;