East Hampton - Ross School seniors learn what it takes to create something from scratch, build it over several months, and ultimately present it to the public. Each year, the Senior Project allows students to immerse themselves in a subject matter of their choice, become experts and then ultimately educate their peers and community. This year, seniors explored many genres, including painting, drawing, photography, architectural and technology design, handmade artist books and bound scholarly research papers, science projects, musical compositions, and films.

Artistic exploration offers a unique perspective on any subject. Students Carrie Holmes, Noah Engel and Roberto Rossellini used this medium to express themselves and their subjects in three very distinct ways.

Holmes' project was a study in art therapy at the Southampton Fresh Air Home with physically challenged children ages eight to 18. She assisted the campers as they created pieces of art using paints, clay and other mediums. After collecting their opinions and quotes on their artwork, Carrie compiled this information along with photographs of each camper with their artwork. The project was finalized in an 80-page published book, "Journey Into Expression." The book is on display in the Ross Gallery.

"Deciding to do this project was a very easy choice. I grew up in a family that has been actively volunteering at the Southampton Fresh Air Home for 25 years," said Carrie. "I have grown up around these special campers and love being around them. I hope my project gave people a new sense of what physically challenged kids are feeling. They are strong, imaginative, creative kids who enjoy life and display it through their art."

Engel created and installed a multimedia installation for his Senior Project, "Phantasmagoria," to express his fascination with the factor of chance in creation. "I am interested in how we can fathom infinity with such finite minds. I believe we do this by relating chaos to pattern. Through my project, I explore the relationship between the individual and the environment around them," he said. "It is my hypothesis that we are each constantly creating our own realities through the patterns we see in this infinite, complex web." Through multiple medias - including films and soundtracks he created and a scripted performance piece he wrote - Noah recreated his personal experiences, dreams, and relationships to this world. "In doing this, I am, in turn, encouraging people to have their own experiences and begin to see the patterns that exist in their realities."

Lastly, boarding student Rossellini created a documentary-style film, "The Deep Blue Sea and Its Wonderful Creatures," which is currently on display in the Ross Gallery. "Since I was little, I have been interested in marine biology," he said. Using a Nikon camera, iMovie and a SonyVegas Pro 9, not to mention building his own sets out of construction paper, Roberto focused on marine ecosystems and the animals that live in coral reefs. Roberto himself appears in the film, alongside his paper creations. The film is delightfully quirky and informative. "I want everyone to know what's happening in our oceans," he said. "I was trying to go for a little tragic and a little funny."

Dozens of Senior Projects are on display in the Ross Gallery and Senior Building and will remain on view through March 17. The Senior Project is the culmination of a student's learning experience at Ross School. Students embody their passions through a process and product that integrates such Ross School principles as multiple intelligences, cultural and historical context, personal reflection, application of technology and pursuit of excellence. The main components of the Senior Project are the Process Folio, the Final Product and the Presentation. A faculty mentor, acting as facilitator, teacher, adviser, editor, critic and advocate, works individually with each student and is critical to the evolution and realization of the project. At the conclusion of the Senior Project, students should have deeper insight into themselves as learners and producers.