The art students attended the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) on Feb. 8. Nearly a thousand students competed at the regional round, five students from Johnson qualified for state. 

 “I feel like we did really great; we had some really great successes,” Adrienne Simes said.

The art students work on their pieces at various times throughout the year, so while some may begin developing ideas at the beginning of the year, others may start a month before the competition. 

“People prepare for VASE without even realizing it,” junior Deanna Saenz said. “I think the only preparation comes from actually having to sit down and think, ‘oh I need to think about what I was feeling when I made this artwork’.”

When creating their art piece, students attending VASE must also create a writing piece answering questions about their artwork. They answer questions and present their piece in front of a panel of judges.

“Maybe they’re an awesome artist,” Simes said. “but then you know they have to be able to articulate their ideas, and then they have to be able to speak and articulate in an interview type format.” 

A hundred and five pieces were submitted and 6 of those pieces advanced. The students advancing to state are Brooklyn Pierce, Mackenzie Pruss, Deanna Saenz, Jose Magallanes, and Brooke Bestman. 

“I definitely planned to go to state,” Saenz said. “I’m happy that it happened; it’s still really great to see it.”