Work of gifted and talented art students on display
Portraits, ceramics, copper etchings and more will be on display during the annual Calcasieu Parish School Board’s Student Art Show, which opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. today at Henning Cultural Center, 923 Ruth St., in Sulphur.
The exhibit will feature a variety of artwork by gifted and talented artists in grades 2-12. Thom Trahan, executive director of the Brimstone Historical Society, said the student show is instrumental in the early development of local artists.
“It gives the student a sense of accomplishment; that they actually made something kind of bigger than themselves,” he said. “In some cases, I know this program has inspired people to go on and pursue further instruction in the ways of art, graphic design and just the creative fields.”
Trahan said the show gives students the opportunity to “express their own style” while drawing from the forms and traditions of famous artists.
Julie Dallas teaches gifted and talented art to students in grades 7-12. She said her students have portraits and self-portraits on display demonstrating mastery of the styles associated with Rembrandt.
“In discipline-based art education, we always have a historical component,” Dallas said. “We expose our students to different art techniques, mediums and processes while nurturing their creativity and giving them an arsenal of tools to develop their own unique style.”
The show will also feature portraits, abstract art and zentangles made by students in grades 2-8 taught by Erin Canik. Working through the challenging forms was fun and frustrating for the students. But in the end, they learned more than just a new artistic technique, she said.
“Life is a building process,” Canik said. “All of our experiences are included in our learning process and into our life patterns, making us the unique individuals that we are.”
The student art show is free and runs until April 5. Henning Cultural Center is open 10 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call 527-0357.
Online: brimstonemuseum.org
The student exhibit at Henning Cultural Center includes several chiaroscuro portraits, like this one, juxtaposed with contemporary art. Chiaroscuro, in art, is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark.