By Henry Parkinson,
Staff Writer.
Santa Rosa High School’s ArtQuest Program is alive and well this year, even in the face of budget issues last year that resulted in the elimination of our dance program, among other cuts. This year, ArtQuest classes are continuing to produce incredible artistic pieces, performances and experiences for students, all culminating in the ArtQuest Fall Showcase.
On Saturday, September 19th, numerous ArtQuest specialties held workshops for incoming students to practice their art and learn from more experienced artists in the program. These included theater, video arts, vocal and instrumental music, photography and visual fine arts. The workshops allowed middle school students to get a glimpse of what ArtQuest has to offer in a fun, hands-on way.
Other notable events coming up include the SRHS and ArtQuest choir, performing their debut concert on Friday, October 2nd. This will feature our concert, chamber and a capella choirs performing a range of music, from soulful pop tunes to traditional South African anthems. The set list will also include “a tribute to a national treasure who had passed on almost a month ago…Dolly Parton,” said choir senior Ryan Tuladhar. The SRHS band will also perform a classical music concert on Wednesday, October 7th, in collaboration with the Santa Rosa Junior College symphonic band.
On Thursday, October 8th, the ArtQuest Fall Showcase will display the artistic and musical talents of our ArtQuest program to visiting families, prospective students and the general public. The showcase will feature displays of physical and digital artwork by the visual arts classes, classroom tours and Q&A’s with teachers and even musical performances by the choir and orchestra.
This year’s ArtQuest theme is based around the phrase “Work that is Real,” which is a line from a Marge Piercey poem entitled, “To Be of Use.” Many students incorporate their own ideas about the meaning of the line into their artwork in different ways. “‘Work that is real’ means making art that’s authentic to our actual experiences,” said sophomore Gracie Johnson.
Every interpretation of an ArtQuest theme is different, and that is what makes the program so exciting.
