Students display art of many forms

The talents of Douglas High School students extend from the culinary arts, to music, media production and studio arts and were on display at the Spring Art Show on May 9.

The 20-plus-member jazz band entertained the crowd with music, singing, percussion and hand-clappers extraordinaire (also known as the brass section) outside the media center. The music moved indoors when the Madrigals, of the funky hats and tunics, sang a set of songs.

Peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies baked by the culinary arts students and punch and coffee from Shady Grove were served. The serving table was decorated with pottery projects in the form of edibles - a strawberry margarita, an over-sized can of Red Bull, a jar of Nutella spread, a giant Hershey's kiss, an extra large-sized pie slice, sushi and enchiladas.

Other pottery was in the form of the popular and recognizable - Snoopy, Captain Jack Sparrow, My Little Pony, a South Park character and one of the Ninja Turtles.

There was a Noah's ark of animal figures of moose and squirrel, ducks, sharks and bears. Bowls and plates displayed would have been suitable for sale at any craft shop.

Other artwork included paintings, drawings, mosaics, photographs of patriotic scenes, landscapes, portraits, screened T-shirts and a surf board. The works were anime-influenced, John Lennon-inspired and reminiscent of 1960s poster art.

Elle Zusi-Russell, 17, was showing her portrait of cut-out facial parts to her 14-year-old sister Jackie. Elle sees art in her future and said she appreciates her teacher Nancy Bargman's enthusiasm.

"Mrs. Bargman has any picture of anything you could find on the Internet in a file in her room," said Elle. "She has really good ideas for us to do - then she lets us do what we want with it."

Screen printing teacher Rita Borselli said her students are very talented but getting them inspired is challenging.

"Trying to put something inside their heads to motivate them is something we work on everyday," said Borselli.

Douglas High School math teacher Gaye Tyndall said it was good to see so many forms of art represented at the show.

"I love to see my students' artistic sides," said Tyndall. "This is what they really like to do."