John F. Kennedy once said, “If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.” Fortunately, at Jefferson Morgan High School, artists are being set free to pursue their diverse interests and experiment creatively in ways that benefit not only themselves, but their peers and fellow community members.
The 14th annual Jefferson Morgan High School Art Show was held on May 9, from 6-8pm in the high school cafeteria. This year, the Art Show featured a silent auction, where students not only received the opportunity to display their best work, but each piece was labeled with a minimum bid price. Throughout the evening, community attendees bid, dollar by dollar, for any piece they felt especially drawn to. At the end of the night, the auction winners claimed their artwork and left for home with their own special piece created by a student artist.
Each of the 15 Art Club members contributed their work to this year’s Art Show, under the direction of High School Art teacher Mr. Michael Lesko. Every grade from 9 to 12 is represented in the Art Club, and these students take part in several special experiences on and off campus throughout the school year. In the art room, students work with various media, experimenting with different tools and styles to discover what methods they enjoy using to produce their best work. Students used various paint types, such as acrylic, watercolor, and oil. They also spent a great deal of time perfecting their pottery skills, making hand-thrown pottery on the potter’s wheel in three unique techniques: raku, horsehair, and gloss glaze. Many students even created pieces in less traditional art forms, exhibiting resin pieces, tie-dye, glass, and jewelry. The work displayed at the culminating art show was a testament to the creativity and passion behind each young artist.
Some of the proceeds from the Art Show are donated to charitable organizations, while others are used to renew the art supplies students need to continue making amazing projects. The funds are also used to give students art experiences beyond the classroom walls on field trips, such as to museums to view other artists’ work first-hand. These experiences emphasize the importance of creativity and inspire students to create beauty once they arrive back at home. The art students have created many permanent installments that brighten their school building for all to see.
“I have always held our Art program and students to a high-level to succeed in all their processes they take on,”Lesko says. “Many people take for granted that this is a great avenue that students can really express [themselves] in different ways…I always see great pride in students, especially when their artwork is out in the community or is a permanent fixture throughout the school.” And through this art, the students of Jefferson can continue to nourish one another and their community for the years to come.