On the first floor of the towering building of the school’s campus, walls filled with color and creation take the main stage. Whether it’s the dust of charcoal or the drippings of watercolor, the art rooms here at JHS are always busy with life. Students of all different talents and passions congregate here throughout the day, expressing their personal stories with a pencil wielded in hand.
Those with a penchant for the arts now have an opportunity to take their ardor to the next level, with the benefits of scholarships, college and career preparation, and a sense of community just to name a few of what the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) has to offer students. They had their very first meeting on Oct. 8.
Adrienne Simes is one of the venerated art teachers at JHS. She is delighted to hold yet another year of NAHS here, and describes her viewpoints on why art is so crucial to the youth of today.
“I believe art is a way to communicate to people that speak different languages than you and are from all walks of life,” Simes said. “And I think that’s the beauty of art; that it can speak all languages.”
On the other side of things, art students are equally as excited for this endeavor as the teachers. Senior Deanna Saenz has given a bit of her thoughts as an artist. She’s been a member of NAHS prior to this year, and plans on continuing her membership until graduation.
“Last year, it was fun to be surrounded by a lot of people who like the same things that you do,” Seanz said. “Everybody there wants to be there. You don’t join the National Arts Honor Society if you’re going to be a business major, you know?”
Junior Karsen Sulak is also aiming to join NAHS. She has participated in Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) for three years and has a true passion for the arts.
“I’m just a very creative person, so when I have the option to create something, I take it,” Sulak said. “Just so that I can get those ideas out and not have them crammed in my brain.”
Art has been around since the dawn of time, and today is no exception to this pattern. To be not only allowed, but praised, for indulging the creative aspect of the mind is said to be something worth celebrating in NAHS. A community built from the best is essential to NAHS, and the folks there have open arms for anybody interested.
In the words of Simes, “I think art is important to students and teachers just like art should be important to the world.”
