Artistic talents across a wide palette of media dazzled students, faculty, family and other attendees at West Essex’s annual art show, held this year on May 11 in the high school library.

The featured work varied from surrealism, handcrafted woodwork and abstract art, to self-portraits, fashion collections and still life drawings. Art pieces made throughout the entire year were used in the art show for everyone to see.

The event was held directly after the National Art Honor Society assembly, attracting all attendees of the assembly to view the show.

Students of all levels of Studio Art classes contributed their work, along with artwork from AP Art, Drawing and Composition, Fashion Illustration and Computer Graphics/Multimedia classes. Students in practical and industrial art electives, including CAD, all levels of woodworking, from Wood I to Advanced Wood Carving, participated.

The National Art Honor Society contributed work as well, in addition to helping put the entire event together.

Freshman Sydney Fishman, one of many students who had paintings on display, said she enjoyed Studio Art I and having the opportunity to showcase her work, especially as an underclassman.

“I worked really hard on my comic book painting, and I was really proud of it so I was excited to show it to other people,” she said.

Art teacher Ms. Rizzi, one of the teachers involved in running the show, emphasized the importance of students showcasing their art, instead of just submitting it for a graded assignment.

“Being able to show off their work gives students a goal to work towards,” Ms. Rizzi said. “Instead of just showcasing their talents, students have a goal to make their work the best it can be for many others to see. Being able to show it off creates an opportunity to showcase their improvement and what they learned throughout the year.”

The teachers who attended the art show were left feeling proud of their students, yet sentimental about the goodbyes they will soon have to exchange.

They said that they are both sad because it was the final farewell to their talented and dedicated seniors but also excited to see what the young and open-minded underclassmen have to bring to the table in years to come.

Everyone who attended the show had enthusiastic reactions, and the pieces featured all received positive feedback.

One specific piece that stood out to many students was senior Isabel Parzecki’s portrait of her younger sister, Julia, which was made with charcoal.

“There were many pieces where the artists really thought outside of the box and created very original and unique art,” sophomore Bella Valle said.

Not only does the art show display fine art done by very talented artists, but also award-winning artists.

Ms. Dunphy won awards for combining art from West Essex students with the RoundTable
articles in the Literary Art Magazine Critique.

The art students at West Essex who submitted their original work finished with a gold medal, with the visual scoring 382/400 points.