Art Club and the Advanced Art class are in the process of creating a story book to promote student work.
Art teacher Jill Langston came up with the story book idea. When she taught at Alhambra High School, she helped her students publish a journal of compiled art, short stories, poetry, and plays, showcasing it at a local coffee house. Langston enjoyed the project, in part, because it was not a competition. Students were able to pursue art forms they were interested in without any restrictions, and share their work with peers in a relaxing atmosphere.
Langston decided to bring back the project at Campolindo. In January, she asked the Art Club if they would like to take control of the story book, and then gave Advanced Art the responsibility of submitting art work and choosing the items that will fill its pages.
Unlike most school assignments, where specific directions and requirements are clearly stated, the story book gives students the liberty to turn in whatever art they want. According to Art Club co-president Emma Archangel, the artwork “can be paintings, drawings, or photographs, literally anything.”
“It will be work that they would like to submit rather than classwork,” Langston added.
The Art Club and Advanced Art are both given free reign with the story book. Langston said, “They get to make all of the decisions. They can take it in any direction they want.”
The project is also extended to students from the general campus population. Everyone is welcome to submit artwork.
Although Archangel is unsure how the book will be composed and when it will be completed, she does have a plan for what the book will include and look like. She and Langston believe that the book will be softbound. The Art Club and Advanced Art Honors will select the artwork, short stories, poetry, and plays that will be included in it. “We’ll be doing the editing, and then we’ll send it to the publishing company,” Archangel explained.
According to co-president Michelle Pang, she decided to undertake the storybook in order to “bring visibility to student’s artist’s artistic skills” and use it as an “avenue” for talented artists who do not take art classes on campus. “This is an opportunity for students who aren’t in art to display their artwork,” Pang said.
“There are a lot of pieces of art that don’t get put up in A Hall,” Pang said.
“There’s no way for student writing to be showcased at school,” Archangle added.
Langston plans on having a “coffeehouse night” in the Campolindo library where students can share their poetry. This event will be open to the public. Also, the storybooks are likely to be sold to the community.
For anyone interested in submitting artwork, please contact Langston at [email protected].
