It’s not every day MHS students find themselves loading a minibus with a couch, lamps, chairs, tea tables, stuffed animals and all manner of ephemera reminding them of home. But that’s exactly what seven students found themselves doing late in the first semester.

No, it wasn’t a senior prank. Rather, a deadline loomed, and they were hard at work on a culminating project more than three months in the making: their own exhibition.

“Within These Walls,” a two-day, immersive art exhibition debuted December 13 at the Lichtenstein Gallery in Pittsfield. The pop-up show marked the final project for student-curators in Gallery Arts & Administration, an upper-level elective that takes students behind the scenes at museums and galleries to learn how to host their own show.

“Their idea was to create a home-like environment in the gallery while showcasing the work they received from participating artists,” explains Ceramics Teacher Nicole Hayes, who instructed the class, and the students were up for the challenge — hence the minibus. “They culled furniture from around MHS and from Goodwill and spent a week transforming the gallery space. They put a lot of effort into it and were super dedicated.”

The show, which drew inspiration from the students’ feelings of home, featured the work of nine area artists and was the result of a semester’s worth of effort.

The journey began in the fall, when the class began the process of creating a thematic exhibition, explains Nicole. They visited cultural institutions such as Hancock Shaker Village, Mass MoCA, and the Berkshire Museum, where they met with curators, gallerists, artists, and other professionals, while also gathering ideas for their own show.

With students hailing from the Berkshires, central Massachusetts, China, Ghana, Mexico, and Vietnam, there was no shortage of ideas. Ultimately, they selected a theme of “home” — what it feels like to be at home, objects and images that connect them to home, and how to foster a sense of home. They were then tasked with connecting with area artists and soliciting artwork for the show.

“This was really a professional experience, just like when I worked in galleries and museums,” notes Nicole. “They had to reach out to artists, work with them on a loan form, and settle shipping details. Learning how to navigate professional relationships is a great skill to learn while still a student.”

Each student-curator selected an artist whose work resonated with their idea of home.

Mae Bergstresser ’26 contacted artist Polly Shindler, whose bright and colorful paintings often feature interior scenes around the home. “She was nice, easy to work with, and excited to participate,” says Mae. “Communicating with the artists was interesting. It taught me how to reach out and put myself out there.”

With an interest in becoming an interior designer, Mae was intrigued with curating an exhibit. “I was excited to design a show, and I also love art,” she notes. “The install days were my favorite, because we worked together to load the minibus, set up the gallery. It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun to see it all come together.”

The biggest challenge, she explains, was navigating ideas. “We were trying to work together to create one exhibit that encapsulated all of our ideas and also make sure that everyone’s voice was heard,” she notes.

Fabi connected with artist Marguerite Bride, who paints scenes from around the Berkshires, including seasonal landscapes and iconic places, such as the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge. Her work reminds Fabi, who is from Mexico, of her home at Miss Hall’s. She advises future student-curators to dig into the experience.

“It’s going to take a lot of your time, but it won’t feel like it, especially if it’s something you are passionate about,” she adds. “It was a good experience, and I learned a lot about design, art, and curating, and I got to know other students who I wouldn’t necessarily have gotten to know.”

Nicole hopes students take away from the class an understanding of all that goes into putting together a show, as well as the career options available in the art world.

“We met with many professionals, and the students got to ask them questions, talk about their roles, and learn what goes on behind the scenes,” she notes. “I hope they leave the class with a more expansive view of the work of artists, museums, art professionals, and I also hope it makes them better viewers when they visit an installation and know how much effort went into it.”