GHS student art produced during SPS At Home on display at Springfield Art Museum
Even in the midst of COVID-19 and its uncertainty, a group of Glendale High School students kept designing, drawing, painting and creating.
“Storytelling through Visual Art” is a unique exhibit of student talent, now on display at the Springfield Art Museum. A small gallery within the museum features 10 pieces with big impact. Glendale High School art teacher Rob Ramos submitted the collection with a proposal about its intent.
“During our unprecedented switch to online learning during COVID-19, students were asked to create a visual narrative to reflect their experiences, thoughts and emotions,” wrote Ramos. “While working on their projects, they received information about artists who created work during difficult events in their lifetimes and artists who used unconventional materials. As a result, these visual art students from Glendale offer this collection of work to tell their stories and perspectives during the stay-at-home order.”
Glendale High School recent graduate Andrew Perkin was there with his mother Jane on the opening day of the exhibition. He created a dynamic illustration of cartoon characters he’s developed for years in art classes at Delaware Elementary, Pershing Middle School and finally Glendale. In his creations, Andrew is the leader of a superhero crew, made up of characters inspired by his real-life friends from Delaware.
In his digital print “24 Superheroes Fight the Pandemic,” the superheroes are fighting an epic battle against a villain who can create a pandemic and freeze time.
“This quarantine caused everyone to be quarantined, except for the 24 students/superheroes who are immune,” said Perkin. “Their mission is to save the world by eliminating the pandemic, bullying and drugs. If they complete this mission successfully, they will become the greatest superheroes of all time.”
Fellow Class of 2020 graduate Gabrielle Moua created a colorful piece on canvas using acrylic and sharpie. Simply titled “Covid,” the piece reflects the many ways that the virus has indirectly and directly impacted her.
“I thought that making a piece relevant to what’s happening would make it easier to see the story I’m trying to tell,” said Moua. “This virus is not only affecting me but everyone else and the world. It’s affecting people in many different ways and so I brought in the different ways that it has impacted me.”
Student artwork will be on display through the summer at Springfield Art Museum, located at 1111 E. Brookside Drive. Admission to the museum is free.