The art program at MRHS puts loads of effort into creating and displaying students’ artwork all over the school to promote and showcase the incredible art created by the students. Paying close attention to the product, teachers handpick which artworks are to be displayed around the school. They can be seen in places such as in the front office, the cafeteria, the commons and on top of the lockers.
Walking through the hallways on the first floor, there is an array of artworks displayed everywhere including a variety of creations ranging from Art 1 to Art 5. These pieces are hung up in places that fit the meaning of the artwork, such as above the lockers, in the commons, the front office and the cafeteria. Each piece is carefully hand-picked by the art teachers, depending on characteristics such as size, shape and category.
“If there’s a really awesome drawing that I think a lot of students will like, then I put it in the front office. But, if they’re more abstracted and targeted towards art kids, then I put it [near the art hallways],” said art teacher Mr. Hensley.
However, as the art department continues to expand, the space available for displaying the artworks created by students becomes more limited. As a solution, the MRHS National Art Honor Society took steps to handle this issue by hosting multiple successful fundraisers raising enough money to build an exhibit to showcase more artworks, potentially depending on particular themes. The exhibit, displayed near the side entrance, includes artworks that will catch people’s eyes and brighten up the school hallways.
Other than being an interesting sight for students, it also may inspire many art students and motivate them to strive for better and create artwork similar to the ones on the wall. “I feel like [looking at the artworks] is the biggest thing that gets me into drawing,” senior Natalie Hsu stated. When seeing artworks displayed around the school, it can give ideas to students and can be something artists look up to and admire.
Along with being an inspiration, having artwork displayed can make the artists feel rewarded and proud.
“I generally like [seeing my artwork hung up] because I appreciate my artwork as someone else,” Hsu commented. Seeing a finished artwork as an artist may give a sense of accomplishment.
For many artists, hanging up the finished masterpiece is the final step of creating an artwork. In a way, it concludes the whole process of making a piece. “If you make an artwork and no one sees it, what’s the point of making it? So I feel like it completes the process of making it by exhibiting it,” Hensley stated.
Through sharing artwork around the school, the art program does more than just show cool art. It provides young artists from Marriotts Ridge with a sense of pride in their work and also inspires existing artists, as well as potentially sparking others with the inspiration to create their own work.