The creative talents of art students took center stage at this year’s Evening with the Arts, an event that celebrates the fine arts and features student work in visual art with performances from theatre, Blankslate, Seneca Ridge and Dominion’s choirs, and strings and guitar students. The event provided a platform for students to showcase their dedication and skill for artistic expression allowing pieces from the local cluster schools to be shared including the four elementary schools Lowes Island, Meadowland, Sugarland, Horizon and Seneca Ridge Middle School.
From striking paintings to thought provoking collages, the visual arts displayed captivated attendees with its range of styles and techniques. One of the event’s judges emphasized the importance of recognizing young artists. “This gives them the opportunity to share their talent with the community. I think it’s very important to make sure that they know their creativity is appreciated.”
For many students, Evening with the Arts was more than just an exhibit, it was a chance to have their voices heard through their artwork. Sophomore Aisha Johri who displayed a portrait of her father and a collage based on Kendrick Lamar’s album “To Pimp a Butterfly”, shared her inspiration. “I love my dad and wanted to show my appreciation. As for the collage, the album is really influential, politically and historically. I thought that was important to show,” Johri said.
For Johri, the event was “a bit nerve racking, because you kind of walk around, but are always checking back on your display and trying to see what people think.” Other than that, she expressed how wonderful it was to show her passion for art.
Jane Mellor reflected on the experience, “I like how it gives people the opportunity to appreciate art.” Her piece, a digital illustration of Pascal from Tangled, was chosen to show the message “that art can be fun. I have a lot of love for that movie and I just wanted to pick something I liked and was happy to take the time to make.”
In addition to the visual art displays, the performing arts brought energy and excitement to the Evening with the Arts. The choir showcased their vocal talent with a wonderful performance, demonstrating not only their harmonies, but also their ability to sight read music on the spot.
Titan Theatre gave the audience a glimpse of their upcoming performance, The Music Man, with a lively number that created anticipation for the full musical. As the night progressed, Blank Slate, Dominion’s improv group, kept the crowd entertained with quick witted and spontaneous performances, proving comedy and creativity go hand in hand.
As the night concluded, it was clear that Evening with the Arts was more than just an exhibition, it was a testament to the talent of students and the ability to bring people together through all types of art.
Senior Lapis Malpartida took home 1st place at this year’s Evening with the Arts.
