Art can be in several forms. The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) club of Conifer High School
treasures all forms of art, and the artists’ imaginations and ideas run wild, in more ways than one.
“Creativity and imagination are personal to everyone, but the more you use these skills the more pronounced they become,” said Laura Svigel, Conifer High School’s art teacher and NAHS adviser. “The students that choose to be in an Art class or an Art club tend to be students who enjoy thinking outside of the box and show strong skills in solving open-ended problems with creative solutions. ”
The group has been hard at work, their most notable work includes their face painting booth every fall, their work for the homecoming themes and displays, and the senior murals. The senior murals are a gift for the graduating class, with layer after layer of paint each year.
“I do not have much say in how it will look other than there needs to be a place where the seniors will place their fingerprints, and that it needs to be to represent the school as a whole body, and not just a few students,” said Svigel.
As a group with differences in creativity and experiences, NAHS put their heads together in order to come up with something that can touch the hearts of students at Conifer. The group creates art that is composed of each member’s unique perspective on the character, colors, and depth. When it comes to these murals they put up for display, they give it their all.
“Art means different things to different people. I would say that the definition of art as a whole is anything that people create to spread ideas, beauty, and expression. Art is how we express ourselves, explore our minds, and spread ideas across all cultures and people. As an observer, art inspires us and lets us appreciate the beautiful things in the world. Our Art Club mostly focuses on traditional art, such as the school murals, face painting, and homecoming decorations,” junior Margaret Sullivan said, an NAHS club member working on one of the senior murals this year.
The members of the club split up to work on or discuss different murals, while others began discussing upcoming art events that NAHS has been involved with in the past, such as the Evergreen Fine Arts Festival. The Evergreen Fine Arts Festival is an annual event approaching its 59th anniversary next August, with children’s activities, food and drinks, music, and a display of local artists.
“I served on the board of the Evergreen Fine Arts Festival. And what we do in collaboration is the students go and volunteer time, sometimes in just a booth, sitting or walking around, helping with basic festival day activities,” said Svigel.
When it comes to the groups working on the mural, they design a variety of concepts and rough drafts. After deciding on a design, they use a series of methods in their process, such as reusing the mural from previous years by covering it with a coat of primer. Even though the previous display is hidden, it’s still there in memory and behind the many layers of paint.
“We all have differing backgrounds in art and ideas that bring different creative ideas that we try to incorporate into our collective projects,” Club President Kaylee Wagner said.
Art is something that can bring people together, as art is an expression from the artist to the people who observe. For aspiring artists like the people behind the murals of CHS, it’s a gateway to many opportunities.
“Stay creative, because it’ll offer you lots of opportunities in life. If you’re a creative person and a creative problem solver, you can think outside of the box,” Svigel said.
