The annual Bedford Public Schools K-12 Art Show at the high school is a progression snapshot, represented by works of art. Visitors traverse the galleries, vibrant with displays by kindergarteners and children in the elementary grades.
The breadth, creativity, and sophistication grow with the grade numbers, through the middle school grades, and arriving at the more specialized high school art works.
Every year the art show culminates with the elaborate panels and tables in the BHS lobby, presenting the works of senior art students. Each display features the artist’s statement and a notebook or pad where viewers can share their impressions in writing.
On Friday evening, as the weekend show opened, family and friends and residents of all ages lingered in the lobby, conversing with the artists and listening to the music of a student combo in the mezzanine.
The lobby was replete with displays in a range of media by some 20 BHS seniors, and several of the artists were on hand for the opening to talk about their projects and plans.
Taylor Anderson’s first year of art was 12th grade, and she presented a range of 20 ceramic figurines. She noted a progression that illustrated her skill development, culminating with a ceramic plate of ceramic sushi. The brand of soft toys called Jellycats were an inspiration. Anderson said she hopes to find a ceramics studio while enrolled as an undergraduate at Endicott College.
“The thing I like to do most with art is show characters,” explained Ada Cooprider. “My favorite thing about art is story-telling, and every single character has a story behind them.”
Cooprider said the weekend art show culminates her 12 years of art studies in the Bedford schools. In the fall, she will be studying at Massachusetts College of Art.
Julia Dacayanan, who spent several years living with her family in the Philippines, explained that much of her art work “reflects the impact of my heritage.” Several pieces mirrored an ocean theme.
Domenic Giusti is a student of Japanese culture. His panel featured enlarged calligraphy, including a quote from the Buddha. He also has studied animation. Giusti said he plans to pursue art on a personal level while studying at the University of California, Berkeley.
Christina Kolak said that her paintings “symbolize my personality.” She will be a nursing major at the University of Tampa, with a minor concentration in animation.
Maddie Mola’s presentation featured selections from her Advanced Placement art portfolio. She explained that although BHS doesn’t offer AP art, she was able to independently submit a 15-work portfolio with writing supplements. The theme, she said, was “The Process of Hard Work.” Mola will study engineering at the University of Connecticut.
Ange Voong said she was first exposed to the ceramics process as a middle school student. She enrolled in ceramics classes every year at BHS and said she found the experience “a good way to relax.” Her display featured cups and bowls made from a pottery wheel as well as hand-sculpted items. Voong plans to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Jocelyn Young said that her display of art was “a combination of things that make up my personality [and] identity, [as well as] social issues that are important to me.” The artist, who will attend Rhode Island School of Design, said her selections were from work created over the past two years.
Healy Weisman marked her first year as a student in high school art with a QR code in the lobby, exposing the route of a scavenger hunt though the school. The map showed how to find samples of her art work. The last stop was a bowl of mini-chocolate bars back in the lobby.
Other seniors participating in the art show display were Robbie Etringer, Ann Girifalco, Emily Goeke, Kaira Grewe, Becca Kohler, Caroline Liu, Emma Mandell, Samantha Sheahan, Shannon Sullivan, Alfie Van Praagh, and Jasmine Werner.
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