First Semester, 2019

Jake O.

The Art Department is humming along in our first months back to school. Our AP Art and Design students are trying to figure out the new College Board portfolio requirements, while also trying to figure out their futures - college is looming on the horizon!

Bella Y.

Ellie R.

Bella Y.

SHHS Art classes had a very productive first semester. In Clay and Sculpture classes, students embarked on a project to raise money for Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Maria relief. Students brainstormed designs, then voted on each other’s designs to come up with three final choices. Those three designs were used as templates for the students to create over 300 handmade ornaments which were sold in the community. Their efforts raised over $245!

In the Art I classes students created stop-motion animation videos using the art room iPads. Students were challenged to create a short video using handmade artistic scenes. The themes for their videos were either “Addressing Global Warming” or “How to be a Good Friend”. Some of those videos can be seen on Ms. McNally‘s webpage.

Several students had work exhibited at the Holyoke Community College Biennial High School  Art Show. This exhibit is a great showcase of exciting young artists in our area. Works from Northampton, Granby, West Springfield, and others were displayed along side our South Hadley artists. The reception was well attended, and our artists received many accolades for their fine pieces. We are about to enter the exhibit season, with pieces going to the Massachusetts Art Education Association Yout Art Month exhibit and the Congressional Art Competition. Students will receive all of their work before the year is over but some of their pieces will be on exhibit in Boston and in other locations across the state.

We have resurrected our chapter of the National Art Honor Society. The Society is service driven and a bit more of a serious commitment than a drop-in Art Club. Members are working on an educational art display project for the school.

On Wednesday, Dec. 20, students traveled to Salem to visit the Peabody Essex Museum’s Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit. The exhibit was stunning and second semester work will reflect some of the art we saw on the tour. This trip was assisted by a grant from our Local Cultural Council which has been so helpful in enriching the lives of our SHHS students in years past. We are very grateful.

Ms. McNally’s SH*Improv group will host a comedy show on Friday, Feb. 2 at the high school. Proceeds from the show will help students going on the service trip to Nicaragua, so make sure to mark your calendar. SH*Improv shows are funny, unique and always a good time.