Over 100 student artists were featured in the gallery

On May 1 at 4 p.m., the VUSD Districtwide Student Art Show opened at the VITA Art Center located at 28 W Main Street. The gallery featured artworks of VUSD students in art forms such as digital art, oil paint, photography, mixed media, ceramics and textiles. The gallery was open from May 1-3 during the art center’s business hours.

VHS art teacher Hilary Morefield said,  “This is our 7th year running the art show, and our 3rd or 4th with Vita. Vita Art Center has been an incredible supporter of this show, donating time, space, and resources to make the show feel elevated and professional. Additionally, Vita has hosted solo shows for our students and hired many students and alumni to teach and work there. They are a true asset to our community and [we] are so grateful for the opportunity to work with them!”

From 4-5 p.m. was the elementary and middle school opening reception. 5-5:30 p.m. was the elementary and middle school artist acknowledgement. The high school’s opening reception was held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. High school awards took place from 6:30-7 p.m. 

84 artworks from both high schoolers and middle schoolers were available for sale. Prices ranged from $20-500. The entirety of the purchase price would go directly to the student artist. Purchased art was available for pick-up from the district office at 255 West Stanley Avenue starting May 6.

In order to be featured in the art show, art students from VUSD either submitted their work to their art teachers or were nominated by their art teachers. Art teachers would then come together to select “just under 150 pieces,” according to Morefield. Artists who were selected were then notified. To get awarded for their art, community artist judges would select students for “Artist of Distinction.”

Morefield said, “This year VHS had ~30 student artists representing our school from Sculpture, Art 1, 2, 3 & AP Studio Art, as well as Digital Photo and Digital Art and Design.” These approximately 30 artists included Milo Williams ‘26, Nathalie Jones ‘26, Piper Brewer ‘27, Noah Sloane ‘26 and Malia Lange ‘27.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Lange said, “I was inspired by a trip to Washington State that I took over the summer and I was really interested by the crows that were there because my aunt told this story abut the crows in her backyard and how they always returned every year…So it’s thinking about crows and how nature interacts with people in a city.” Photo by: Ann Lam

Williams has been in sculpture for two years and created the glazeware piece titled “Honey Pot.” Williams’ ceramic piece titled “Good Night Moon Totem’ was sold for $100.

Jones, who has been in art for four years, used oil paint to create her piece titled “Me/Myelf&I.”

Brewer’s artwork “Packed in like Sardines” was a mixed media piece. In her freshman year and this year, she has been in art.

Sloane, a second-year student in photography, won an award for this digital photo piece of Blake Harris ‘26 titled “Cougar Country.” The piece was on sale for $50.

Lange has been involved with art camps since elementary school. Lange’s tapestry piece titled “The Crows of Bellingham” won an award. 

Morefield said, “I think there’s something special about having your work up on a wall or in a gallery. As an artist, we have a tendency to really overthink our work or be self-critical, but when you’re in a gallery setting you can hear and see your family, friends, and the public react to your work with pride. I hope the show is a space where students can feel a sense of accomplishment about their work. They deserve it!”

Brewer said, “[Art] is super significant. It taught me what I want to do when I get older. I really want to be an art teacher. I want to show other people that they have the ability to create something that makes them super happy and expressive.”