Walkersville’s Evening with the Arts show occurred this past Wednesday. Students, parents, and members of the community walked through the art gallery, aka the school cafeteria, where WHS students showcased their artistic talent through drawings, painting, ceramics, sculptures, and photography. There was even some fabric art.
National Arts Honor Society advisor Karen McGraw expressed her excitement for the yearly event: “Even though I’ve only been here for four years, the art showcase has been something I’ve loved to help put on with Mrs. VanGilder-Martin and Mr. Loy since then! It’s a great way to see what all art courses have to offer to students interested in joining the art department.”
Another, relatively new, aspect of the art show was the silent auction. This is only the second time that it has taken place at WHS. Members of the Arts Honor Society and the Art Department’s own teachers donated pieces which were auctioned off to raise money for the club. Upon interview, the artists for the auction remarked how happy they were to create art using the school’s resources without the constraints of a usual art class. Sam Hong donated “Moon Jelly” which was inspired by the artist’s love of moon jellyfish.
Alongside visual arts, Evening with the Arts is also an opportunity for Mr. Loy’s guitar classes and Mrs. VanGilder-Martin’s piano classes to showcase their talents for an audience. This year, guitar students presented as groups. They picked a song they wanted to perform and worked all semester to get it ready for an audience. It was an interesting, effective change. Bella Altman, the head vocalist for Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You,” stated: “Even though my instrument isn’t in the recital, it was fun to sing and be a part of it! We’ve been working on this for a really long time, and I’m happy our work all came together.”
The guitar groups alternated with piano solos from beginner level players to advanced pianists. This gave the audience a variety of musical experiences, and made the recital both entertaining and fun. Isis Walker explained that they “had practiced for weeks” to prepare for the recital and how she recommends taking piano because “you can work at your own pace.”
Want to see more art? In the spring, Walkersville is expecting another great showcase of students taking art classes in the second semester Students without an art credit yet and want a first hand experience of the courses available should make plans to attend the next Evening with the Arts.
And watch out for the NAHS’ Door Decorating Contest taking place this week.
