Lover of all things art and film, Gibson’s work behind the scenes makes Enloe theatre and dance productions possible. With a great taste in music and an even greater spirit, Gibson Wood will leave a lasting impact on the art department and Enloe as a whole.
As the daughter of a graphic designer and a photographer, art has always been a part of Gibson’s life. She explained that art and creativity have “always been very encouraged in [her] house.” As an art student at Enloe for all four years, with a preference for working in 3D, Gibson described art as a release and reflection of oneself. “[Art is] like a tangible reflection of you. It keeps me emotionally regulated … when I’m stressed out, I can go and tune in on [art] because it’s so involved, and then I have something to show for it.”
Ms. Mann, an art teacher and the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) advisor, has been Gibson’s art teacher since her freshman year and has played a significant role in fostering her love for art at Enloe. As a student, Ms. Mann sees Gibson as very creative and talented. “[Gibson] has such amazing ideas and knows how to execute them. [She] is always doing her best work, experimenting with new materials, [and] pushing herself just beyond what was expected.” In the classroom, Gibson has an encouraging presence and is a leader.
These qualities have followed Gibson as she performs her duties as a board member for NAHS. Ms. Mann described Gibson as “instrumental in keeping things organized.” From planning new events, running meetings, and tracking hours for volunteers, Gibson is the glue that holds NAHS together at Enloe.
Joining the board was major to her as she genuinely cared about the club and art overall. Maintaining the dignity of NAHS is very important to Gibson. With organization being her “forte”, NAHS was an opportunity to run events and plan meetings with coordination and structure. Elika Harsh, a friend since sophomore year, admires Gibson’s organization and planning skills. Elika explained, “She addresses everything directly, making it easy to plan things that would otherwise be complicated.”
In elementary school, through a “behind the scenes” class in fifth grade, Gibson’s passion for stage production started. Since her freshman year, Gibson has been actively involved in stage management at Enloe with 14 productions (and counting) under her belt, from dance concerts to theatre productions. Gibson recalls Les Mis as the coolest production she’s worked on, but Radium Girls is her personal favorite. “It was the first time I was [a] production stage manager … I was the only one in charge. I think it was really interesting to navigate for myself what it’s like to be the leader.”
Grey Ardon-Lindquist, an assistant stage manager and friend, commends Gibson’s ability to lead through Enloe’s productions. “She leads in such an organized and empathetic way that everyone respects her, which is what makes her such a great stage manager.” He adds, “She’s a great crew lead and prioritizes making sure everyone in the crew understands their job and is as eager about working on the production as she is.”
When asked what Gibson brings to his class, Mr. Byrd, her technical theatre director for four years, said, “Gibson brings a knowledge of running events to the class and her peers.” Working with someone as passionate about the program as Mr. Byrd has affected Gibson’s motivation toward working on productions. She commented, “Having someone like that makes you want to work really hard and get to the highest place that you can.”
From taking notes for the director to helping actors with their lines, Gibson maintains a sense of order and efficiency in the productions put on at Enloe. With the constant practicing and repetition of stage management, Gibson said it has taught her discipline and taking initiative. “You have to be super observant … because there are so many moving parts to all the big shows that we do.”
Gibson’s appreciation for theater as an art form is exemplified in the way she approaches her role as production stage manager, which she considers her proudest achievement throughout her high school career. “I love putting on a [theatrical] show, seeing how it all comes together, and telling a story. It’s getting shoved aside by film and social media, but it’s good that, as a high school, we’re still taking it seriously.”
Ultimately, this experience has made Gibson a more confident and organized person, but beyond stage management, she has made an impact on the people in her life. Grey commented that, “Outside of stage management, Gibson is a great and caring friend who anyone is lucky to know. She always brings her great spirit to any group, making her an all-around great person to be around.”
Across her time at Enloe, Gibson has learned the value of perspective. She explained, “Working in tech and art, I think everyone has such a unique perspective, and we’re very accepting of that here.” Elika comments that “Gibson makes me feel like I can always be myself. I think she is really grounded in who she is, and that makes it easy and fulfilling to hang out with her.”
Described as funny, dependable, and empathetic, Gibson’s impact at Enloe through her leadership and compassion will not be underestimated. In the future, Gibson’s goal is to produce movies. As she takes her next steps toward a future in film, which will no doubt be successful, Enloe leaves behind a thoughtful leader whose creativity and passion will continue to shape every space she enters.
