Highlighting students in art and CTE classes
Lowry High School invites the community to attend their annual Art & CTE Showcase on Thursday, June 2.
It will be held at the high school from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and feature creative works from students in Art and in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes.
Chair of the Art Education Department, Julia Topholm, said that this event is the culmination of all the hard work that the students have put in since the first day of school and presents a unique opportunity for the community to celebrate the talented students at the high school.
“This is to highlight the students’ work. Art classes and technical classes are very hands-on,” said Topholm.
The art showcase will feature work from students in Art I, II, Advanced Art, and Sculpture, with pieces inspired by many different disciplines. The CTE portions of the showcase are just as extensive, and will feature work from students in Welding, Physics, Graphic Design, Winnada, Shop, Auto-Technology, as well as other special projects, like those done in Construction.
The students are “getting exposed to things that are career-oriented,” said Topholm, and “it’s things they can take out in the real world.”
The Art and technical classes help students to cultivate their skills that they will retain long after they graduate. The teachers of these programs are passionate about helping their students to grow their knowledge, drive, and experience with each project.
“The biggest thing is for our students to see progress with each piece and the development of their skills,” said Topholm.
Topholm explained that the Advanced Art students, who paint the intricate murals spanning the walls of the Art building, prepare budgets, proposals, and project designs for their work. The Art students are currently painting a bus as a special project, which will also be a part of the showcase, according to Topholm. Other students are able to put their work into a physical portfolio that they can take with them to college as well, according to Topholm.
The Career and Technical Education classes, as well as the Art classes, require a great deal of critical thinking. These students must prepare projects that are both detail oriented and professional, as their work is usually displayed to the entire school, according to Topholm.
“Art and CTE classes have a lot of critical thinking skills that have to go into the production of a piece because art is subjective. Some people are going to think it’s good and some will think it’s not,” said Topholm.
Many of the students have put a tremendous amount of time and effort into their projects, and this event is a special way to honor them.
“I think it’s a way to give the kids the opportunity to show off what they’ve created,” explained Topholm.