On May 22, AP Art students gathered to display the work they had created over the course of the school year. Hosted annually in the upper pool lobby of the high school, AP Art Night is a gallery-like event showcasing a wide array of pieces.
Since the beginning of the school year, AP Art students have been creating diverse pieces focused on a sustained investigation following a theme of their choice. The self-paced class allows students to work independently, giving them space to create their best work.
“[The class has] been very challenging,” said Livia Herzing-Burkard, senior and AP Art student. “It’s very self-regulated, so you have to regulate when all your work comes out because you decide your own theme. You have to stay on top of progressing that, and it’s never outlined assignments.”
To showcase this work, students and art teacher Jessica Mohagen organized exhibits for each student to display their artwork.
“Each student created a…very individual aesthetic of the world they see or what they’re grappling with, and you get a little glimpse of that,” Mohagen said. “There’s just a real joy [and excitement] in the air…at AP Art Night, to be able to finally show off that work. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but it’s worth it.”
Although students created roughly 17 pieces each over the year, it was up to them to decide how many to display and how they would display them. Students also used a variety of mediums in their work.
“[I had] about 11 pieces on display,” Herzing-Burkard said. “I [had] acrylic, oil paint, oil pastel, charcoal, and colored pencil.
Some students also chose to display their work in a way that aligned with their investigation. Another AP Art student, Lucille Benavides, chose to display her work on a home-made wooden structure that reflected the mood of her artwork.
“I basically wanted [the display] to have a shabby look that matched the themes in my investigation,” Benavide, who focused on elements of the hero’s journey through her art, said.
The exhibit displayed a variety of different investigations, ranging from focus on animals, literary devices, and emotions.
“My sustained investigation or theme for my artwork [was] Chiaroscuro, [which is] the effect of light and dark points in a piece, so a lot of illuminating effects and a light source being held in darkness, so a lot of pieces with someone holding a lighter, or a campfire,” Herzing-Burkard said.
“My sustained investigation is on how I can showcase a story through pictures and how I can use elements of the hero cycle, symbolism, motifs, repetition, and mood in an artistic way,” Benavides said. “A lot of my pieces represent different parts of the hero cycle…following a specific character on his journey.”
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AP Art night, showcased the final products of these investigations. The exhibit was open to friends, family, students, and anyone else who wanted to support the artists.
“These artists sometimes hold dear to their art but now it’s out for everyone to see and talk about, and there’s just a real joy in the air and excitement in the air at AP art night to be able to finally show off that work,” Mohagan said.
For students, the whole process of taking AP Art was rewarding in addition to the exhibit.
“AP Art is a really fun class,” Benavides said. “It’s really good for learning how to critique others and how to take criticism…it’s also a very self paced class so you have to know where your limits are and how to push those limits.”
Herzing-Burkard agrees, emphasizing refining her own art style as a highlight of the class.
“I think I’ve just really enjoyed continuing art and getting back to it because I didn’t take an art class last year,” Herzing-Burkard said. “I’ve just kind of been learning how to refine my skills for art, and also focus on: what’s my art style and what do I enjoy to draw?”
For Mohagen, seeing the students’ hard work being displayed was the most rewarding part of AP Art Night.
“My favorite thing is to see the pride or see the students’ hard work was worth it and how talented they really are in their creative voice.”