ENDICOTT — On Thursday, Dec. 15, the Union-Endicott art department held its first-ever Elective Art Show. Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., visitors were able to walk through the Tree Room and view students’ achievements.

Over 20 students, present and former, had their talents displayed. The show featured work done in 11 classes: painting, drawing, photography, advertising design and illustration, computer graphics, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, art and architecture, fibers, and media arts.

“We wanted to showcase all the hard work of all the students, what they’ve been doing so far.” said Ms Chelsea Ingalls, a UEHS art teacher.

In the past, the only art class that had a show was the Advanced Placement art class. Those students, as well as those who had finished an art sequence would be able to exhibit their work, but to get an art sequence, you have to have five credits. Not everyone can be in AP Art, and some students only take a couple classes, and can’t do five.  

Studio in Art also was excluded from the show because of limited space. However, according to Ingalls, there are plans to have a show for studio students as well as those in the music, art and computers class, or MAC, at a different time later in the year.

As the nature of such a show entails, the displays were very diverse.

While many exhibits have been taken down, the work in the display case are still up. There, you can see paintings hanging on the walls with examples of student workmanship in fiber arts, with jewelry, ceramics, and other 2-dimensional artwork.

One thing that could not be displayed, however, were the posters that the Advertising Design and Illustration studnts are designing for this year’s musical production, My Fair Lady.

What set this show apart from the usual student art shows were the students whose work was put on display. Senior Jason Dearing was one of those students.

“The art show was a success because it featured students who would normally not be in a show,” he said. “Normally, it’s just seniors in AP or who have completed an art sequence.”

Dearing had work from his Advertising Design and Illustration class on display.

Many current students, as well as some former students had at least one piece of artwork on display in the show.

“Some classes are only half year,” explained Ingalls. “Some courses aren’t being run this year because there haven’t been enough students signed up. We’re hoping to get them interested in these classes.”

Senior Heather Megyesi also had her work included in the show. Megyesi was the Featured Artist of the show. Her work was displayed together, and there was a photograph of her with a typed statement about her experience in the art department to go with it all.  

“This is something new we’re trying,” Ingalls said. “ She was our first one. We picked her because she is a very hard worker, and she has been creating some amazing things. This is something we want to do every month. We will meet as a department, and choose a student to be featured in the downstairs showcase. This isn’t going to be open just to seniors, it could also be an underclassmen.”