BRICK – Students’ artistic efforts were on full display at Brick Township High School as the district celebrated their annual Arts Festival.
The district-wide festival commemorated its sixth year honoring visual and performing arts programs from pre-school all the way to 12th grade. The event celebrates creativity, talent, and the passion of the staff and students.
Displays consisted of more than painting, but showcased ceramics, murals, digital designs and photography, which are usually classes taken by the high school students. The event also showcased performing arts programs such as dance, drama, choral, instrumental music, and bands. Performances from all grade levels were held in the auditorium and gym.
New to the festival this year was a “Performing Arts Signing Day.” Just like when senior athletes declare their college, grade 8 students had the opportunity to declare what performing art they wish to join next year. The occasion let students take a photo with their instrument, a choral robe or drama mask, and was signified with an official certificate.
“It’s an extraordinary evening, it’s very joyful and inspiring,” said Jennifer Lane, Supervisor of Science 6-12, STEM Coordinator and Visual Arts. “It’s a great way to display everything that we do curriculum-wise within the school day.”
Mural by Makenna Ellis. (Photo by Alyssa Riccardi)
Over 30 high school students in the district have been transforming the halls with colorful murals. Whether a mural holds an important meaning or signifies school spirit, its creation takes weeks to complete, but has a satisfying outcome.
Jude Harzer, Art Educator, Mural and Art Club Advisor at Brick Memorial High School, developed the curriculum for the mural program back in 2018. This is the first year she’s teaching the program in both high schools.
“The teachers who first started the program at Brick Township High School – one retired and one got ill – so the program lacked for a couple years,” Harzer said. “I said I don’t want to lose that program. The murals, more than anything, is about the community and transforms the space.”
“At Brick Township it’s really been successful. We already have a lot of kids signed up for next year,” Harzer added.
Despite only having two students in the program this year at Brick Township High School, the walls have already been covered with vibrant paints and positive messages. The students are currently working on a large-scale dragon mural at the front entrance of the school.
In the library and media center, a completed mural can be found right when you enter the room. A bright orange sun displays graphic waves and the quote “Wisdom Begins In Wonder.”
“I allow [students] a lot of independence. There’s much potential with murals. It teaches art history, concept design, painting techniques, color theory, proposal writing and more,” Harzer said.
For the Brick Memorial Mural Artists, a collage of photos was on display revealing all the new murals that were painted this school year.
Brick Memorial student Jakub Kriso is currently in the process of painting a stained-glass inspired mural with a flower at its center.
“It’s going to be super vibrant. I really love color, and I like to see all the color in our school,” Kriso said. “I really want to make vibrant colors and something super big, because I think the big colorful murals are the most impactful to people.”
Painting, sculpture, and graphic design were among the art forms represented. (Photo by Alyssa Riccardi)
Kriso explained how he first began his project by collecting reference photos and blended them together in Photoshop. He then printed out a final reference picture and determined what colors would be used for each section.
“I mixed my blues for the background first and on my paper, I have them basically like color-by-numbers. Right now, I’m blocking in the background,” Kriso said.
A collage of photos showing the new murals at Brick Memorial High School. (Photo by Alyssa Riccardi)
In the past, Kriso has painted a women’s rights mural as well as one for the Mock Trial team, which he’s a part of at Brick Memorial.
Harzer noted how more students are becoming interested in a long-term career in art.
“I have so many students going to art school now,” Harzer said. “I feel like more and more, the kids are becoming serious. I always try to tell them if they’re going to do it, do it now.”
The night was filled with creativity, talent, and community spirit. The free event welcomed hundreds of families, friends, and residents who all came to support the arts in Brick schools.
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