Salvador Dali and others inhabit a vibrant portal opening into a multi-sided space. Tables occupy the center for study or visitors may spend time in the stacks searching for facts or a novel to exercise the imagination. On a mild late-winter’s day young hands picked through cardboard, plastic, even white pipe cleaners and halved CDs to conjure beasts and other trappings of mystical worlds.
Alliance High School hosted Gering, Bayard, Mitchell and Gordon/Rushville Wednesday, March 5, in the AHS library for an inaugural Art Challenge. Kathy Brock, who is in her 12th year teaching art at Alliance High, explained the idea for the event came from a larger competition attended by AHS and other area schools. “We go to Chadron State every year for an art day,” where students participate in three of 10 stations offered overall, she said. “The teachers and I were sitting around one day and thought we’d have an art day challenge and do recyclables.”
Recycled materials were the preferred media because they can be had at no cost and relatively little time and effort. Keep Alliance Beautiful Executive Director Kathy Worley texted a list from Brock a few weeks prior to me. We tossed everything into two of our gaylord boxes with a solid pickup load as well as a student’s car stuffed with cardboard added to what Brock had set aside. It was fun to imagine what our donation would become. I was unaware of many details until arriving about an hour and a half into the event as I watched the five-person teams (Gering fielded six students) forming their visions from potential components covering each table.
Three additional teams were invited – Bridgeport, Harrison and Olerich, S.D. – though could not attend for various reasons. Teachers collaborating for the event generated 10 possible themes then chose “Mythical Worlds” at random. Theme No. 8 states: Students can create sculptures based on mythological creatures and legends, like dragons, unicorns, or gods from different cultures, using creative materials.
Each team was able to shop for their supplies from a common table, Brock said. A lot of cardboard, newspapers, container lids and other goodies were available to peruse among. The first session was 9-11:30 a.m., then 12:45-2 o’clock after lunch.
Alliance fielded a team of all seniors taking either Advanced or Independent Art. Other schools included underclassmen. Brock noted, “I think they were all excited about it, they all wanted to do it.”
Kyren Gibson, Carnegie Arts Center director, judged the Mythical Worlds’ merits and awarded AHS first place. Where will the dragons, castles, Medusa and everything else go? The other teachers commented that they expected to take the sculptures home and display them.
“We’ve already talked about doing one next year and the teachers doing their own to show up the students,” Brock said.
Known for creativity and static exhibits, high school art is less likely to lend itself to in-person competitions. However, I applaud a new event for students to occupy the academic calendar alongside FCCLA, FBLA, FFA happenings and other extracurriculars such as concerts, plays and speech meets.