By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
Cherokee High School showcased the artistic talents of its students at its annual Art Show held at the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center on the evening of Thursday, May 3. Over 50 students’ work was on display in various mediums such as pastels, oils, wood carving, beadwork, basketry, metalwork and more.
Christine Davis, CHS art student, poses with two of her paintings at Thursday's student art show. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather phtoos)
“These kids are loaded with talent,” said Alyne Stamper, CHS art teacher. “I’ve never taught one year that hasn’t been really, really talented.”
Christine Davis is a CHS art student who has been painting for about two years and was displaying several award-winning works at Thursday’s show. “It’s just a great escape. You can express so much in just one painting, in one brush stroke, and words sometimes can’t capture so much purity and imagination.”
Reba Elders, CHS art teacher, also had very high praise for her students and said whenever they take the students to art competitions or other shows that everyone is blown away. “The ability of the students, the artistic ability, is unreal. Other people can’t believe it’s high school artwork.”
An example of the hammered copper metalwork taught by William Rogers.
This year, the CHS art program brought in guest teachers to instruct the students in specialized fields. EBCI tribal members Josh Adams, a noted painter known for his graffiti art style, and Joel Queen, a nationally-recognized potter and artist, worked with the students this year.
William Rogers, a well-known metalworker, also worked with the students. He taught the students a metalwork technique involving hammering copper. “It was inspired by research of both Arch Miller’s work and pre-European copper work done here in the United States. I’ve been doing this type of work for 30 years and have been teaching in the Cherokee community for four.”
Kyra Sneed shows off one of her oil paintings (#209) which took a third place ribbon at the show.
CHS students won awards at other shows this year including the State BETA conference and the annual Heard Museum Student Art Show held annually in Phoenix, Ariz.
For more photos of this event, please visit the One Feather photo gallery at:
