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Blooming Easels
Growing in leaps and bounds, the Wylie Art Program has been growing steadily with a noted boost in recent years. Art teacher Alexis Hughes, who has taught art in varying capacities at Wylie for 21 years, has seen the program evolve into what it is today. She initially taught art at Wylie Junior High (now West Junior High) for five years, and then after taking a year off from teaching, joined the high school staff to teach biology and one section of art.
“Wylie has offered Art 1-4 for probably twenty plus years. Over the years, they kept adding more sections of art until I finally became a full-time in art,” said Hughes. She taught alongside full-time art teacher Stacy Sanchez, who Hughes credits with adding Art 4. Together, they added Drawing 2, which Hughes teaches along with Art 1. Lisa Camp, who teaches Art 1-4, replaced Sanchez six years ago after she sadly lost her battle with cancer.
“Art is definitely growing at Wylie. All of our classes are filled to the brim with students,” said Hughes. “We even don’t allow freshmen to take Art 1 unless they have had two years of art in junior high because there isn’t enough space for everyone who signs up.”
Between Hughes and Camp, 14 sections of art are offered at the high school level, which won’t change until the new high school building is completed. Currently, Camp teaches in the original art room and Hughes teaches in the renovated yearbook room, which is connected by a shared storage closet.
“We make it work…but as our classes continue to grow…finding places to store their art, wet paintings, moving around the room to clean brushes, get supplies…is controlled chaos,” Hughes added.
At the junior high level, interest in art is also blooming. Both campuses offer Art 1 and 2, as well as a class called the Expo Wheel, which allows sixth grade students to sample mini classes of varying subjects throughout the school year. Tina Jones (EJH) teaches all sections of art for sixth through eighth grades. Kina Tiemann (WJH) also teaches all sections of art for all three grade levels but is assisted by Kelly Trumble with teaching additional expo art classes. Trumble also teaches eighth grade RLA.
Jones said Art 1 are her fullest classes and believes this is due to sixth graders getting a “taste of art” through the Expo Wheel class.
The space issue in high school and elective selection in junior high can sometimes set the students back in art. Tiemann said it can be a challenge for junior high students to complete Art 1 and 2 before high school since electives begin in seventh grade. Freshman Max Thornton said he ran into this issue since he took art in seventh grade but not in eighth.
“I would have taken Art 2 my freshman year, but because I skipped a year, I had to start over.”
Art at the younger campuses is taught by instructors from the Grace Museum over the course of the year, according to campus principals.
Beyond the Canvas
While art is blooming big across the district, so is success. More students are finding success competitively, and academically as well as with transitioning art skills in the work force.
“In the past few years, we have had a record number of area and regional VASE entries as well as an amazing number of State VASE winners. It is both awesome and humbling to be able to travel with our young artists to State VASE. It is quite an honor for these students,” said Camp.
The Texas Art Education Association hosts its Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) art competition each year, beginning in March. There are two levels: VASE for high school and VASE Junior for junior high students. The regional VASE competition, which Hughes said is hosted by McMurry University, is on March 1 with state finals being held in San Marcos on April 25-26. The competition is twofold including submitting artwork for judging and completing a one-on-one interview to discuss the artist’s knowledge of the medium and technique displayed in the piece.
Across the board, the Wylie art teachers have communicated their desire to equally instill an appreciation for art as well as the knowledge and skills to create it.
“I hope to give my kids every opportunity to create, experiment, and learn as much as possible while discovering their abilities and passions within art,” said Jones.
“We realize all our students may not move on to become career artists,” Camp added. “We just want to instill a love for some form of art that our students can use either in addition to their future careers or as a way to relax and unwind. On the flip side of that, we do have some students who are fully capable and interested in pursuing a career in the art world, and Mrs. Hughes and I do all we can to get them plugged in and on the right path to making those dreams happen!”
Tiemann, who teaches at the collegiate level as well, said seeing artistic potential in children at an early age and supporting it, like parents do with sports or learning to play music, can result in successful careers, and it is more tangible with the world becoming more digitally connected.
“I do know there are over 100 careers in art. Parents often don’t think about that,” said Tiemann. “They are not aware that an art major can make a living doing many things. For a studio art major who is skilled in a specific area…painting, pottery, etc… self-promotion and income are more possible these days with online promotion and sales opportunities.”
In the Eye of the Beholder
Developing artistic prowess varies from one student to another, but regardless of their reasoning, art students across Wylie ISD are finding their time in art class to be most valuable, and of course, in the most creative ways.
Wylie art students share their thoughts on art: the positives, the benefits and why others should take it even if they believe they are “bad” at it.
“You can try something new and can express yourself through it – who you are and who you’ve been. I put how I feel into art. Its taught me to be kinder to others because I am not patient, especially with my little brother.” –Esme Castro, WJH 6th grade, Expo Wheel
“It is a fun activity, even if you think you’re bad at it. I’ve seen others give up because they think their work isn’t like professional artists. Never give up. Practicing more makes you better.” –Aaliyah Archer, EJH 8th grade, Art 2
“I’ve enjoyed learning different types of art styles and the freedom I have been given on my VASE work. Art is tough to procrastinate on…different from other classes. If you start late, it exaggerates the difference [in finished product]. I feel accomplished after completing a project.” –Max Thornton, sophomore, Art 1
“Art is more than a class. Some think you have to be amazing, but you don’t. I’m not patient at all, and I’ve learned to be detailed and thoughtful, and it’s taught me to problem solve. Art doesn’t always go the way you plan it. It’s flexible and a safe space, and it always pushes you to be better.” –Morgan Dean, junior, Art 3
“Art is something I enjoy and find relaxing. The teachers have helped me to realize I can do what I enjoy rather than what others think, and I really value that. I’ve learned to be creative. I’m trying to be an electrician, and there are situations where you don’t have the supply or tools, so you have to problem solve and be creative.” –Madison Osborn, junior, Art 3
“I really like art, and don’t see it as expressing myself, but maybe more of escaping. I plan to go into animation, and I really like 2-D animation better than 3-D; I feel I can bend them and give them more expression.” –Myka LaFrance, WJH 7th Grade, Art 1
“I think it’s relaxing and not as tedious as other subjects I have to study more.” –Savannah Rosenkranz, EJH 8th Grade, Art 2
By Kristen Johnson
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