Due to the pandemic, art teachers from Chatham County Schools came together to create the Chatham County Schools Winter Arts Festival. The show highlights work from Bennett School, Bonlee School, Chatham Central High School, Chatham Grove Elementary, Horton Middle School, J.S. Waters School, Jordan-Matthews High School, Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, Moncure School, North Chatham Elementary, Northwood High School, Perry Harrison Elementary, Pittsboro Elementary, Siler City Elementary and Silk Hope School.
Artwork from Northwood students includes pieces from all levels including Visual Art I, II, III, AP Studio Art and National Art Honor Society. Photography students’ work is also highlighted through photography class and Photography Society. The music department was represented through a recorded performance by Pitch Please (Northwood’s co-ed acapella group).
Students are excited to be able to showcase their work even with the new virtual format.
“I think the virtual show is an amazing way to show off the student’s artwork during the pandemic,” said freshman Caroline Porter. “I am so lucky to have been selected to be in it, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to show off my art.”
Porter is a student in Megan Shirlen’s Art I class. Collages from Art I, like Porter’s, were staple pieces in the show.
Senior Caroline Puckett is a member of Leslie Burwell’s AP Studio Art class.
“I think the show is a great way to keep the arts kids focused on their talent during this tough time,” said Puckett. “I personally struggled with keeping myself motivated to create during quarantine, but I feel like this show will really show how well we all are and how much effort we put into our work.”
Puckett has two pieces featured in the show that illustrate her progression as an artist during the course. She feels gratitude for the arts program at Northwood and feels that its presence in her life greatly impacts her work.
“I can’t even describe how much joy it brings me to hear new news about any aspect of the arts program at school,” said Puckett. “I love dance; I’ve been doing it for three years, but theatre has a special place in my heart where I did improv. And to top it all off, we’ve got so much music and bands and singing; it just is a great place to be, and I love that it feels like a safe environment.”
Although the majority of the show focuses on students in current art classes, members of art-related clubs are also highlighted.
Junior Jade Schneider is one of the students highlighted through the collection of work from the National Art Honor Society. She loves seeing other students work through the show and feels art is an important part of her life.
“Art means a lot to me, it’s something I’ve always been very passionate about,” said Schneider. “I think I’m drawn to making art because it’s always been a constant in my life no matter what’s going on in the world.”
Senior Zoe Munoz is also a featured member of the National Art Honor Society and is a club officer.
“It’s definitely something that I’m glad to be a part of,” said Munoz. “There are a lot of great people involved – both other students and Mrs. Burwell – in the program that makes it something worthwhile. There is never any outright criticism or negativity in the group; which can be hard to find, and everyone is very supportive of others, their lives, and [their]artwork.”
Munoz is also grateful for the club’s support during the pandemic. Her piece speaks directly to current events in relation to coronavirus.
The Photography Society led by Ms. Shirlen is also highlighted throughout the show.
Sophomore Lily Jordan and junior Noah Civiletti are two of the featured artists from the Photography Society. Both feel that art is transformative and worthwhile, especially within the Northwood community.
“Making art means a lot to me, as it is a way I can uniquely express myself, that is personal, yet other people can connect to it,” said Jordan. “I think it is an honor to be able to create a piece that has a major impact on people or highlights things that are often overlooked or hidden. I take pictures because it allows me to have an impact on the world in some small way. A picture can tell a story and bring light onto things that may not be seen before, and for someone my age to be able to have a chance at that is something people dream of.”
“Making art is a way that I can share something I find beautiful with others,” said Civiletti. “I like photography because I am able to capture and preserve a moment of time that I find interesting or appealing.”
The show closes with a virtual Pitch Please performance of Black Horse and the Cherry Tree. All the participating singers separately recorded themselves, and the audio and videos were combined by Pablo Vega from The Workshop.
Sophomore Rylan Camara was a soloist in the performance. She calls the Northwood Arts Program a “second home” and emphasizes the importance of singing in her life.
“Singing means the world to me and I can’t imagine my life without music,” said Camara. “It has gotten me through rough times and has always stuck with me. I sing because of the way it makes me feel but also for the hope that I make others feel something as well.”
To see the Chatham County Schools Winter Arts Festival in full, visit ccsartsday.com or view the presentation below. The show is also being supported and publicized by the Chatham Artists Guild as part of their 2020 Studio Tour.
