Four Elma High School students were recently recognized for their artistic prowess at the OSPI Superintendents High School Art Show at an awards ceremony May 19.
ESD (Education Service District) 113 winners were Alyssa Sauer in photography with “Fence” and Zoe Wright in fine arts with “Stars Can’t Shine Without Darkness.” Each district holds a district-wide art show, with qualifiers advancing to the OSPI show. Honored at the state level were Maddi Everson with “Absent” and Doug Wescott with “Life is Oily.”
Schools of all sizes from around the state take part in the event that works to bring student work to the attention of the community. This year the photographs submitted by Everson and Wescott were two of four honored in the photography category statewide, and two of 25 total pieces honored.
Digital photography and video production teacher Rob Beldin said he didn’t want students just taking pictures of things that “looked pretty.” Instead, the goal was to have students formulate a concept for their work.
“They don’t like it much, but I think it’s proven to be a good thing,” he said.
Everson’s “Absent” was the result of a well-formulated concept.
“I had seen a picture similar to it online and knew I wanted to recreate it, so I did,” she said.
Everson says she has been taking pictures since she was 12 years old, and everything about photography appeals to her.
“I do it (photography) because I’ve had a passion for it for years and I will continue doing it for years to come,” she continued.
Wescott says it’s the freedom that comes with photography that appeals to him.
“It’s the individuality and the fact that you can do whatever you want; there are no rules on what you can and can’t shoot,” he said.
Where can the community see these works of art on display?
Members of the community may have been looking at student work and not realized it. Beldin says the school supplies some Summit Pacific Medical Center waiting rooms with student work from throughout the years.
“We rotate student work there all the time, he said. “It’s cool because it’s an opportunity for the kids to get their work out there.”
