As students and staff begin to step into the art hallway at HHS, they are met with walls, filled with vibrant colors, detailed designs and creative pieces. The hallway, which is usually a quiet passageway, became a gallery space for all students and staff to pause between classes and admire the work on display. The annual Winter Art Exhibit once again highlighted the artistic talent presented by HHS students.
The Winter Arts Exhibit took place from Jan. 14 to Jan. 15, with the art hallway decorated from end to end with student artwork. Art teachers and students worked to transform the space carefully by arranging pieces in a way where each student’s work was being displayed making each painting shine. The exhibit featured a variety of artistic mediums including paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography and fabric-based art.
For student artists, the exhibit represented months of preparation and creativity. One senior explained their inspiration for their artwork, pen and ink of the wrestling gym. “That place is special to me, since it’s a wrestling club that I practice at. I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a wrestler and a person ever since training there. And I’m also planning on giving the drawing to my coach there,” senior Charlida Cimino said.
Another student shared the meaning behind their digital art, fig portrait and the symbolism used throughout the piece. “I wanted to illustrate my conflicting relationship with femininity and my nonbinary gender identity through symbolism of the color pink, a fig and my self portrait. For background, I openly use they/them, and I switch between presenting myself as feminine, androgynous and masculine. I love the color pink because it’s pleasant and versatile, but not because it’s “feminine” as society so often likes to categorize it. Also, I wanted to use the fruit imagery and facial expression to express my vulnerability. Women are seen as delicate, but I feel fragile in a separate way as someone who identifies as outside of the binary,” said Rio Quiampang
Winter Art Exhibit. (Bhuvana Vasantavada)
The exhibit also emphasized the role of educators in supporting student creativity. “It’s nice seeing what they created, especially for 3D, because I never get to see the sculpture and ceramics stuff,” art teacher Megan Jannone said.
The Winter Art Exhibit leaves a lasting impression on the HHS community. By transforming a familiar space into a gallery of student expressions, the exhibit reinforces the importance of student creativity, even during the coldest time of the year.
