Raymond Banke ’19 recently completed a residency with the Djerassi Resident Artists Program in Woodside. He is a recent graduate of Columbia University, where he studied visual art. He said his work focused on “improving my ceramic wheel throwing skills and making many pieces of ceramic functional ware.” He also completed a clay sculpture as well as another piece to be placed on the Djerassi property, created from found materials.

Last week, visual arts department chair Josh Martinez and art teacher Pilar Agüero-Esparza accompanied a group of upper school students to Banke’s studio at Djerassi to view his work in progress. Banke also answered questions about college applications and his professional life outside of art. Founded in 1979, the competitive Djerassi residency, considered one of the world’s best, is renowned for its picturesque 583-acre property in the Santa Cruz Mountains where its artists work.