As the school year comes to an end, Del Oro’s art community has taken the opportunity to show what it’s created. Friday afternoon, the Art department hosted its first Senior Art Showcase inside the library.
In addition to artwork created by members of Del Oro’s first graduating class, there’s also was an exhibition titled “From Crayons to Clay.” This exhibition was a collaboration between TK students from Crescent Elementary and art students at Del Oro. The TK students were taught a lesson on animals where they learned about the different features each animal has. By the end of the unit, they were told to draw their own animal using tempera paint sticks.
“My students then got those drawings and made them into sculptures,” Del Oro art teacher Madison Holmes said.
“It was so much fun recreating the kids’ artwork and bringing them into the real world,” Senior Kimberly Robles said. “The most fun part is trying to get into the kids’ minds and figure out what certain things are, such as if the arms are actually arms or wings.
“I also enjoyed putting my own signature art style onto the art itself. I’m so excited to see the artist I got react to seeing his art turned into a sculpture and I am so honored to be a part of it.”
For senior Kimberly Becerra, the project was about more than creating a sculpture.
“I wanted to bring a kid’s drawing to life, not just to make them smile, but to show them that their creativity matters,” she wrote in an email. “That every scribble, every bold color, every wild idea they dream up has value. With the art gallery, and by bringing their art piece to life, I’m able to show that their ‘weird ideas or ugly art piece’ aren’t so weird or ugly.
“Art isn’t about perfection—it’s about possibility. And when kids realize that, they start to believe not just in their art, but in themselves.”
Holmes said the senior art showcase features work from students in her advanced classes who she’s taught for all three of their years at Del Oro. The showcase also includes art from several underclassmen.
Senior Consuelo Galvan Salazar had two pieces in the showcase that were meaningful to her, titled “Imperfect” and “Yourself.”
“I want to make people feel something more than to see something when they look at my art,” she said. “Art is like a puzzle. When you lay eyes on it, curiosity may fill you and you may wonder what its purpose is. I hope that the people who walk into this gallery walk in with that same curiosity.”
Holmes said she was “very excited” for the gallery because of how professional the gallery space looked. For example, the students painted the space, obtained real mounting for the art work, and also set up nice lighting. They also got a sign donated to them. The Jazz band also performed and the Floral Design class created small bouquets.
The strong turnout for the Gallery showcase is due to a program called “California Educators Together,” Holmes said, adding that she was able to get the program’s director visit and film the lesson for the platform.
Holmes expressed excitement for her students.
“We wanted to have this gallery open last year,” she said. “I have the same kids still, so they were juniors last year and now they’re seniors. So the fact that they’ve waited so long for it has just become better and better.
“I’m just so glad we were able to do it before they graduate because I have some really talented kinds and they’ve done so much to establish the program.”
