26th Annual Art Show hosted at Washingtonville High School

Washingtonville High School’s 26th Art Show showcased students’ self-expression and imagination, as families gathered Friday evening to observe their loved ones' artistic creations. 

There will be another chance to attend the show Saturday, May 30 from noon to 3 p.m.

This annual event allows high school artists to proudly display their creative work from throughout the year. Students are offered a variety of artistic courses to take including Studio Art, Intro to Painting, Sculpture: Paper Mache, Advanced Graphic Design, Digital Illustration, Intro to Filmmaking, Clay and more.

“It’s been fun taking these classes, I liked it a lot,” said Sofia Brown, a sophomore enrolled in Intro to Graphic Design and Advanced Graphic Design. “I definitely learned some new things, and I think I improved overall in digital art and painting techniques. In terms of appreciating the arts, I realized how much effort I had to put into my own work to realize what it takes to put the effort into other art work that I'm seeing.” 

Courses such as these provide students with the opportunity to further explore their individuality and imagination. Additionally, it teaches students how to express their ideas, emotions and perspectives through art while developing valuable skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom. 

“I feel very proud. I don't know much about art, but just seeing her develop her skills throughout the year makes me feel very proud," said Vanessa Paulino, a mother of a freshman at the high school. “That means that she's taking in all the skills that she's learning, and hopefully she can apply it in the future. I just love everything that the district has to offer; all the different programs they have, and shows like this that allow students to display what they've been learning.”

The show displayed a variety of mediums of art including drawings, oil paintings, watercolor paintings, photography, film, animation and clay art. Pieces featured in the showcase were chosen by teachers based on certain criteria.

During the show, there was a plethora of activities for families to participate in to unleash their own creativity. These projects included button designing, face painting, as well as keychain and bracelet making. All of these activities were run by students in the National Art Society. 

National Art Society students assisted with the preparation of the event, creating road signs and setting up displays. To join the National Art Society, students are required to submit a portfolio of their work and maintain a certain grade point average in all of their classes. 

John Waldie, who teaches Media Journalism, Intro to Acting, Intro to Filmmaking, Studio Art and Digital Photography at the high school, proudly watched families view their children's work. He has the perspective of teaching Washingtonville students in both the high school and elementary school levels through the years.

“Some of the kids I have now that are in ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th grade, I had when they were in first and second and third grade. So, I remember them when they were little drawing a fish. Now I see them and they've just continued to grow, grow, grow and expand. So, you know, that's pretty awesome to see.”