Westford Academy hosted their annual district-wide art show on May 7, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., showcasing student artwork in the WA bell lobby. Various paintings, drawings, and sculptures made by students from K-12 art classes were on display. Parents were encouraged to view the art show with tickets for admission being $1 per person. WA’s National Art Honor Society (NAHS) held a fundraiser for the Westford Food Pantry in the same venue.
According to WA art teacher Edward Hardy, the purpose of the art show is to showcase the artistic efforts of students across the whole district and to bring a glimpse of what goes on inside the classroom out into a public space.
“Though not a real goal of the department, I think when students see what artistic exploration looks like beyond the foundation-level classes, there is an inherent interest that is generated. Most students take Foundations of Art but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they know what goes on in photography, ceramics, movie making, or painting, and displaying the variety of work that comes from those classes can inspire students to move in a particular direction,” Hardy said.
According to Hardy, he selects work to be featured in the art show by looking for examples that merge original concepts with dynamic uses of the material the artist has at hand.
A variety of art was displayed in the show including graphite drawings, paintings, collages, ceramic pieces, and photography. According to junior Ryker Dang, students appreciate the art show’s efforts to cultivate a strong community of artists in the school atmosphere.
“It feels nice to have my artwork in the show. I like showing off the pieces of artwork that I’m most proud of, so having them presented in the art show feels rewarding. I think having the district-wide art show encourages students to pursue art in general, because having so many talented artists’ pieces showcased in one area shows how talented our district is, and encourages students to foster a love for the arts and become a part of the talented community of artists,” Dang said.
WA’s NAHS hosted a fundraiser for the Westford Food Pantry in the same venue. Guests that attended the art show were encouraged to view a Food Art Gallery arranged by NAHS. The gallery included a series of paintings and prints made by NAHS members depicting their favorite foods from around the world. The original paintings were sold in a bidding system where customers could bid on their favorite paintings while prints were sold for $4 with all proceeds going to the Westford Food Pantry.
