Since the beginning of their junior year, the DP art students have been long preparing for the production of their very own public galleries. It has proven to be quite the challenge for many of the seniors, as their exhibitions have required a level of personal investment far surpassing that of most assignments. The amount of effort that was put into their shows is phenomenal, and it is to their great relief that the fruits of their labor can finally be appreciated by the masses.

The level of individuality that the shows have offered is astounding, each one adhering to a distinct and highly personalized theme. But on what criteria were these themes selected, and what significance do they hold? According to Lilah Odishoo, a student whose show focused on cycles of monotony, her theme was selected on a basis of personal experience. “It was something easy for me to create based on,” she says. “It was something that I had experienced and could relate to.”

But Lilah’s experience in selecting a theme was not uniform. Each student had a distinct process in choosing their themes, and each of their topics held a different level of personal significance. Diana Hays, curator of ‘Dinosaurs Were Artists, Too’, claims that her theme was chosen simply because “[she] like[s] dinosaurs”. This didn’t make her show any less meaningful than the rest, and when asked if she would pick the same theme in the future, she responded with a simple “Yes.”. Overall, the creative liberties of the young artists were not heavily confined by their assignment. At least, not in terms of theme. 

Though their creative liberty was quite free, the DP students were asked to draw inspiration from ‘visual influences’, or in other words, well-known artists in whose style appealed to them. Using their styles as a scaffold for originality, the students were each drawn to different artists for a wide array of reasons. Some students were drawn to style, whereas others were drawn to a specific ideology. According to Diana, she was drawn to Keith Haring because she was interested in his ideology of how art is for everybody. “Conscious and subconscious hierarchies in the art world are fundamentally harmful to human expression,” she says, her simplistic medium a reflection of her beliefs. 

Lilah on the other hand was drawn to the artistic style of creators such as Egon Schile and Helmut Newton. She combined Schile’s manipulation of the feminine figure with Newton’s black and white photographic style, as well as with his use of clothing to emphasize figure. The manipulation of style, as well as with choice in medium, was difficult for many students. Utilization of a visual influence certainly aided in catalyzing the artistic process, but adjusting to the use of foreign mediums proved a challenge for some of the up and coming artists. 

“Learning how to use a new medium was definitely a learning curve,” says Marisol Martinez, who aimed to dissect her identity as a Mexican-Chinese. “I ended up using multiple mediums, scanning my artwork and manipulating it through Photoshop.” When asked if she would change her theme if given the opportunity, Marisol reports that “if [she] wanted to go an easier route, [she] would choose something else, but [she] was ultimately happy with how it turned out.”

Theme, medium, and inspiration were all key aspects of the DP art shows. The results of the galleries were well received due to the fact that these elements were very cohesive. However, creating harmony is difficult, and the actual process of putting everything together proved quite turbulent. “I found myself procrastinating,” Lilah remarks, expressing a mild frustration. “I only worked when the feeling sprung up to do so. I would have a more methodical approach in the future.” Aside from issues of procrastination, students struggled with finding motivation. “I don’t like doing art for school, I prefer to do it for myself,” says Marisol. In describing her process, Diana simply remarked; “AUAUGAHGAHGHAGHGHGHGHGHGHGGHGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Overall, the art shows were not an easy feat. They challenged students to step out of their comfort zones, learn new mediums, and explore new avenues of artistic expression. Even though they were quite difficult, they proved to be equally as stunning; creating personal meaning whilst also pleasing the eye. Though they are likely overjoyed that their shows are over, the seniors have proven themselves to be capable of great things, and have learned several valuable lessons in the process. The shows went off without a hitch, and all of Eagle Rock is anxious to see how next year’s galleries will compare. The bar is set, and it is high. Good luck, juniors!