The sights and sounds of student creativity -- and the scent
of fresh-brewed tea -- grabbed the attention of all who entered Santa Ynez Valley Union High’s old gym Oct. 24, and found it
transformed into a center for the display of the works of aspiring young
artists.
This year’s Common Object art show revolved was themed
“T.” Every art student created an
original piece that was connected to tea, tee, or T. The result was a collection of talent and
creative interpretation that attracted hundreds of viewers from the
community.
The work varied
not only in individual concept but also in medium, and
included drawing, painting, sculpture, and fashion design.
The entrance to the show was the foyer converted into a tea
room, where students served hot tea and teacakes. Viewers moved through a
curtain of tea bags to behold the show in its vibrant entirety — with hundreds
of pieces adorning the walls, and sculptures scattered about the vast space.
“I was impressed the moment I walked into the gym by each
student’s individuality, yet commitment to the theme,” Natalie Morris recalled.
Art pieces include sophomore Jordan Devine’s detailed
graphite piece, “T-Pain,” senior Syeira Simon’s
elegant drawing of a “tatt-tee’d” woman,
and junior Amber Dolyak’s minute ink drawings on
sweet-smelling chai teabags.
The show also featured sophomore Adrian Lopez’s evocative
work depicting Alice in Wonderland characters gone bad,
and senior Kristen Lozano’s mixed media collection of “T” photos and teacup
pieces. Freshmen Jessica Yarnell and Korinna Camargo‘s inventive winebarrel-sized teapot was a hit.
One of the cherry-on-top pieces of the evening may have been
the enormous cherry and teaspoon hanging from the ceiling, crafted by Chase
Yost with teacher Nancy Thompson. The
talent of these students, who range from first-year beginning students to
fourth-year advanced placement and International Baccalaureate students, is
evident in the complexity and skill of the many works of art.
Toward the end of the event, a fashion show featured the
designs of sophomore Mandy Pimentel and senior Katrina Gutirrez,
among others. The innovative designs
included everything from teabag-adorned skirts to T-shirt dresses and spunky
teabag flapper garb.
Thompson and Connie Rohde were the driving force behind the
show, putting in much time and effort, as they do every year, to make manifest
the ideas for the exhibition. Both
teachers are devoted to encouraging ingenuity in the students, and one needs
only to see the accomplishments of the teen artists to fully appreciate the
value of their instructors’ guidance.
Rohde commented that “the high quality of the work comes
from time invested, and knowing that a large, supportive audience will come to
view their work. Being seen brings
accountability and confidence.”