MCL Grand to host district art show

Students to showcase talents, receive awards at tonight’s opening

The district’s high school art show, which exhibits works created by students, will open tonight at 7 p.m. at the MCL Grand in Old Town, followed by an award ceremony.

Tonight’s opening will last until 9 p.m. but the works will be on display until Feb. 10.

Art teachers are allowed to submit a maximum of 10 pieces to a jury, who then decides which pieces make it on the show.

“We picked the 10 probably best pieces that we have from last semester,” painting teacher Shana Blair said.

Senior Kensei Kim’s art is being featured in the show for the second time and he feels “pretty confident.”

“The first time was good, I submitted a sculpture,” Kim said. “I called it The Emerging Revolutionary, a revolutionary soldier coming out of a book.”

This year he submitted Hunters, an altered book sculpture depicting two soldiers “from different worlds, one from American colonialism, [and a] native American.”

Kim said his inspiration comes from both history and the books themselves.

“Each book tells its own story and has its own world,” Kim said. “I want to depict that world in a physical form.”

Senior Megan Benjamin’s Embers of Love Forgotten, a soapstone sculpture carved into the shape of an anatomical heart was selected to be displayed as well.

“I didn’t really expect it honestly,” Benjamin said. “It was an old project I brought back just to kind of fix up, and the art teacher wanted to put it in the competition.”

Senior Johanna Aguirre said having her work displayed came as a surprise.

“I didn’t know I had that kind of talent,” Aguirre said. “I started [drawing] ever since I was little, I just picked it up. It was a surprise when they told me my art was gonna go up the first time. I hope I get an award. I’m a little worried about it because I saw last year’s show and it was impressive.”

Both her Little Blue Sock and Reflective Liquidity paintings, as well as her Relax pencil drawing will be showcased.

Other students whose pieces will be displayed are Madeline Hopkins, Ye Jee Kim, Zoe Fisher, Pamela Ekechukwu, Jeannie Martinez, Cristal Camacho, Anayeli Calixto, Misael Gallegos, Emma Wozny, Michael McDonald, Juwon Ryu, Isaiah Collins, Jezebel Pardo, Lillian Lewis, Desirae Rubio and Jack Purcell.

The gallery will be open to the public until February 8, from Tuesday to Saturday, 1-5 pm.

Jehu Arzate and Asia Collier contributed to this story.