Virtual Gallery Shines Light on Visual Artists

Student artists hope that showcased art brings inspiration amid COVID-19

Bia Shok, Features Editor|February 22, 2021

The+watercolor+piece+painted+by+AP+Art+Studio+student+and+senior+Gina+Cardini+is+named+%E2%80%9CA+Series+of+Events%E2%80%9D+and+is+inspired+by+her+grandfather%E2%80%99s+daily+life.+Cardini+said+she+always+had+a+fascination+for+the+older+generation%2C+and+she+wanted+to+portray+a+scene+that+is+easy+to+understand.+%E2%80%9CAs+artists%2C+we+would+be+extremely+honored+if+even+one+person+came+to+look+at+our+art+pieces%2C+but+personally+as+a+human+being%2C+these+times+have+been+very+difficult+and+I+think+everyone+needs+a+distraction+every+once+in+a+while%2C%E2%80%9D+Cardini+said.+%E2%80%9CThis+is+really+going+to+be+the+perfect+time+to+escape+the+real+world+and+look+at+bright+colors+and+be+amazed+by+the+different+shades+and+talents+of+such+wonderful+artists.%E2%80%9D

The watercolor piece painted by AP Art Studio student and senior Gina Cardini is named “A Series of Events” and is inspired by her grandfather’s daily life. Cardini said she always had a fascination for the older generation, and she wanted to portray a scene that is easy to understand. “As artists, we would be extremely honored if even one person came to look at our art pieces, but personally as a human being, these times have been very difficult and I think everyone needs a distraction every once in a while,” Cardini said. “This is really going to be the perfect time to escape the real world and look at bright colors and be amazed by the different shades and talents of such wonderful artists.”

Typically, students visiting the annual art gallery would look at various pieces installed according to course and grade in the Learning Commons. This year, students will be scrolling through a website instead of strolling through aisles to review student artwork.

The visual arts board arranged the website, which was released on Feb. 12. Most elements of the gallery were kept as similar as possible to the physical gallery in order to maintain a sense of familiarity, according to visual arts teacher Kearci Moir.

Teachers will also receive a scavenger hunt worksheet for students to fill out while looking through the gallery in order to ensure interaction with students in other courses. Here is a preview of just some of the art featured in the virtual showcase.

According to Moir, moving the gallery online decreased the time students took to arrange the gallery. While the in-person gallery required 50 students to spend most of their Sunday afternoon installing artwork, the website took only 20 students to build, and most of the artwork was uploaded within two hours.