St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary Catholic School’s grade twelve art students are preparing for their year-end art show at the Arts Project downtown. The school has been putting on the show for the past 15 years. The students create the art featured, organize the show and advertise it. A combination of original work and reproductions will be featured. The students are told to pick a theme for their art series that will be featured. Although the details regarding the show are still in the process of being decided, the students are none the less excited.
David De Serrano has been the art teacher at STA for over 17 years. This will be his last time arranging the art show as he will be retiring this year. “In lieu of a final project or exam, I ask the students to put together our year-end show.” De Serrano says the students decide on the name of the show. The students design the posters, organize opening night, and choose artwork from the other grades to feature. “We average over 250 [on opening night]”.
De Serrano thinks that this is a great opportunity for the students. “It’s good for the future because it makes a lot of people advocates for the arts. Often once they have that experience they often continue to come. To go to galleries and bring your friends.”
The students continue to work hard on their pieces and are working on organizing the show.