Communicating through the arts

Wantagh High School and Middle School art students and teachers held their ninth annual Art Festival in the high school gymnasium on May 28.

This school event offers each high school and middle school student enrolled in an art class the opportunity to showcase their work to family, friends and classmates. According to Patricia Beary, a high school photography teacher, the artwork of 600 to 700 students is featured in the festival and hundreds of family and friends attend.

“I love to hear the parents say, ‘Oh my Gosh, I can’t believe the amount of work and the quality of work put into these projects,’” says Kelly Good, supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts. “It is always fulfilling to see the wow factor.”

Beary said she believes this night is very important for the art program. “It certainly highlights the kids and their accomplishments, but also our program and the kinds of things that we offer,” she says. “We have a full fine arts program which encompasses drawing, painting and print making, and we have a full digital art program and photography program.”

Along with their standard art classes, Wantagh High School also offers Advanced Placement art classes. These include 2-D design and photography.

AP photography student Alexis Conway, a senior, said she loves the program. “This has been a tremendous help because it gives me a range of what I like and don’t like,” Conway said, “and tells me what I am strong in and not strong in.”

According to Beary, each Wantagh High School student needs one fine arts credit to graduate. She estimates that 75 percent of students take at least an art class at some point or another throughout their tenure.

Eighth grader Skylar Wolfson, was very excited to showcase her work. “I like to see all my friends’ art and show them my work,” she said. Wolfson added that enjoys using special computer programs such as Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop to create her artwork.