Artists strut their stuff at Killeen High School
The Killeen High School cafeteria was transformed into an art gallery Tuesday night, during the school’s first art show in recent years.
The show included 52 works from current art students, which ranged from Japanese animation inspired drawings to prints to short films.
Awards for best drawing and best design, in addition to an audience favorite nod, were given at the end of the night.
Eleventh grade student Eunice Smith had several works on display and received enough votes to earn the audience favorite award.
Her entries ranged from realistic drapery pencil piece to a colorful, Japanese animation inspired work.
Enuice has always been inspired by Japanese culture and art, she said, but works in a variety of styles to balance out her portfolio.
She hopes to apply to art school next year and become an animator, she said.
Freshman Meghan Rourke’s “Nightmare” dragon won best design, while Danielle Revels’ small but intricate work in pen, “Octopus,” was named best drawing.
The opportunity to show work can be a powerful motivator for students, art teacher, Kaylene Rudd said.
“It gives them not only a sense of relevance and importance in relation to what they’re doing in class,” Rudd said, “but also a chance to see what their peers are doing.”
It also gives parents a chance to appreciate the work their students are doing, she said, as delicate works often stay at school until the end of the year for safe keeping.
Cressida Sechrengost, whose 11th grade daughter, Jessica Sechrengost, had two drawings on display, admired the school’s efforts to organize the show.
The live classical guitar playing by school Spanish teacher Inocencio Lugo was an especially nice touch, she said.
“It really generates an atmosphere conductive to walking around and looking at things,” Sechrengost said.
Killeen High School has four art teachers and offers beginner to advanced and Advanced Placement art classes, in addition to a film class. The art program is popular, according to teacher Kim Squires, who alone instructs 120 students.
Squres hopes the show will become an annual event. “We’ve been wanting to do this for years,” she said.
by Coleen Flaherty, Killeen Daily Herald