Arts | The Radar

Islamic Geometry: Patterns That Shape Art, Math, and Faith

By Maya D. '28 Tomb of Hafez (Hafezieh) in Shiraz, Iran What do ancient mosques and palaces, modern tech design, and Bay Area architecture have in common? Islamic geometry. Intricate stars, endlessly repeating patterns, and perfectly balanced designs appear across centuries and continents. Known as Islamic geometric designs , these patterns are more than decoration; they combine mathematics, religious belief, history, and art into a visual language that has influenced the wo

Feb 27

Adventures in Japan, A Residency, and Reflections on Her Artistic Career: Catching Up with Ms. Williams After a Hard-Earned Sabbatical

By Sophie D. ‘26 Ms. Williams in the studio at her residency this past Spring. After almost 22 years at College Prep, visual arts teacher and lifelong artist Christina Williams took her sabbatical last Spring. Her activities included travel—a 10-day solo trip to Japan, a residency on Vancouver Island—and, of course, lots of art: indigo dying, sketching in her notebook, plein air, and more. It’s been a pleasure to have Ms. Williams as my teacher, and as my advisor, for the pas

Oct 31, 2025

An Evening at the Palace of Fine Arts: Yash S. '27

Written and Edited by Sophie D. The Photograph In his photograph titled An Evening at the Palace of Fine Arts, Yash S. brings us an...

Feb 12, 2024

Best of Bay Area Art in 2023

Sophie D. ‘26 I was initially torn on what to write about for the Arts ‘23 wrapped. There are examples of art all around us, all the time: art on campus, in the Bay Area, and in the greater world. The entire last year of visual art in the “greater world” could not be condensed into a single article, of course, and although visual art on campus would be the most specific to our community, I ended up ruling out that option because I wanted to bring in a wider scope that wouldn’

Jan 28, 2024