Expression, freedom and emotion - the Annual VHS Art Show displayed the artistic vision of their students. With a melting pot of visual communication, such as painting, drawing, photography, graphic design and photoshop mastery, the undeniable freedom of the exhibit showed the diversified talents of the Valpo high students.
Student, Erica Hauter's artistic philosophy was, "It's a curious little thing. A thing where someone can escape. A thing where pictures come before words, and a thing where nonsense makes perfect sense..."
She was right. Most of the displays would be a confusing mess of interpretation, but these gifted young teens molded and constructed stories from images. Skin floated away like dust, creatures crawled out of human heads and multiple objects conformed to one another in order to create something else entirely.
Similarly, Elly Colon expressed, "...Through my artwork I try and express ideas and concepts. I want the people looking at my artwork to think about what I was trying to say, not just come right out and tell them what I was thinking."
Some took a more direct approach, spelling outright their beliefs and emotions on the canvas, bearing themselves for all to see, such as student Justin Rhinefield who says, "Through my artwork I have tried to let people into my mind and feel what I feel. I have wanted to show what goes through my mind on a daily basis. I have wanted people to understand where I come from and why I am the person that I am."
Highly intelligent, creative and intuitive - these high school students were clearly on a different level from the average student, understanding the depth of imagery and the profoundness of visual expression. Most students had personal music playing to accompany the art, in order to evoke a specific emotion with the viewer as well as having designed an incredible showcase for every individual display. Some exhibits felt like the streets of Paris, while others appeared to be a construction zone or a desolate alleyway.
Being such an open and free medium of expression, the students took every liberty to communicate in their own personal way. Whether it was in the subtleties of photographic nuance or the graphic extremes of the imagination, their ideas were made clear, and they were listened to by their peers, parents and teachers.
The show continues through April 15th at 6:00 pm in the upper gymnasium at Valparaiso High School. Take part in supporting the youth of our community and experience the talent that the VHS students have to offer!!