March is Youth Art Month. It’s a time to recognize the importance of art education in schools and highlight young artists. Our Johnston City High School Art Club embodies this mission. These dedicated teens are honing their skills and giving back by teaching art lessons to younger students, inspiring the next generations of artists.
Right now, excitement is building as the Art Club prepares for its district-wide art show. This year’s theme is ‘Welcome to the Jungle,” highlighting exotic and endangered animals. For Junior Zoe Moore, the art show is a full-circle moment after she volunteered to help her Freshman year.
“It was really cool watching them set up and helping set up,” she remembers. “It was a lot of fun, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Throughout the year, the club dives into creative projects. During the first semester, you’ll find them on a road trip to the St. Louis Art Museum and throwing a thrilling pumpkin war where other schools are challenged to a painting and carving competition.
Members also support fellow groups at our high school, like a special mural for the Healthcare Occupations Students of America’s (HOSA) pinning ceremony and face painting at football games. Plus, they’re connected to the community. These students add a little holiday spirit to downtown businesses by painting their windows for Hometown Christmas.
Then, the second semester focuses on the art show:
Putting their projects into displays
Creating Art Show Trophies
Making decorations for the art show
Practicing characters for art show fundraiser
During the second semester, a highlight for Art Club is providing lessons to students at Jefferson Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, and Washington Middle School. These projects are then displayed at the art show.
“I enjoy seeing how excited the kids are to learn about art,” Moore says. “Seeing what they can take from these art lessons and turn into their own thing.”
At the elementary schools, the club gave the younger students a toy dinosaur to draw. Member Addisun Hutchinson says the lesson might sound easy, but there was an added challenge.
“Whatever way they wanted to draw the dinosaur, they couldn’t move it,” the junior shares. “If they faced the dinosaur away from them, they had to draw it like that. The students also drew their dinosaurs with a background of where they lived.”
Students at Washington Middle School were supplied with bright pieces of construction paper. They ripped up the paper and used the pieces to make a collage of an extinct or endangered animal. Hutchinson worked with some of these middle schoolers when they were in elementary school and enjoys seeing their progress.
“I like to see how their minds grow,” she says. “I get to see a part of them grow up. I get to see their artistic skills grow, and it makes me happy. Working on the art show is really fun because I get to see everybody’s projects. I love that.”
On the day of the art show, younger students will be bused to the high school during school hours to see their masterpieces. Grades K-8 will have their projects color-coded so students can easily find their artwork. As the big event approaches, Art Teacher Melissa Fiedler emphasizes how important it is to showcase these talents.
“The art show helps to inspire the younger kids to see the skills they could develop with enough practice,” she states.
High schoolers will have their artwork grouped by grade level. Projects by Freshmen and Sophomores can be found together, and then the same goes for Juniors and Seniors. While Seniors in advanced art will have their own booths. Fiedler hopes families will come to see their child’s artwork, but she’s also passionate about the bigger picture. Fiedler wants the Johnston City community to come out and show they care about the arts.
“People don't hesitate to show their support to sports,” she explains. “Many of my students are not sports kids, but they still put so much work into developing their skills that they deserve to be recognized as well.”
The “Welcome to the Jungle” art show is Friday, April 11th, and the public is welcome from 4-6 p.m.