Oftentimes eighth grader students get strategies when picking high school classes. Some take the hard core classes first, no free hours till junior year. Some double up on fun courses, like ceramics one and two or cooking and baking in the same year.
These choices may have been influenced by an older sibling, a friend group, or advice from parents or teachers. Although freshmen plan out what classes they’ll take each semester till the end of senior year, many of them will adjust their schedule many times before becoming an upperclassman. This allows people to take classes they never thought they’d enjoy.
There is a secret class highly recommended to those who love side quests; Senior Art Portfolio!
Senior Art Portfolio (SAP) and the even more secret Junior Art Portfolio (JAP) are self-led art classes that not only push selected students to produce art, but also give them opportunities to show it to the world. This involves studio time, field trips, and being entered into many art competitions.
There are eight artists in SAP and two in JAP this year, which believe it or not, is a big difference from the first year. The 2017-2018 school year was Bonnie Ahrens’ first year teaching at Mount Vernon and her 11th teaching. Ahrens had advanced students at her last school, but she was unable to give separate instruction for them or provide further opportunities to share their art.
“It is an opportunity for students to practice being self lead, in a way that they would make art on their own outside of being a student,” said Ahrens.
The difference is that at Mount Vernon Ahrens had the ability to develop an advanced independent study. The year she arrived she had four SAP students who presented their work at Mount Vernon Creates, a gallery on main street that is no longer there. Students this year will have a similar experience; showing their art at Abby Creek Art Gallery also on Main Street.
Earlier this year in October, they took a field trip to Omaha for a tour at KANEKO art center, Bemis art auction, Joslyn Art Museum and Hot Shops, a glass blowing and art workshop. As well as walk around Gene Leahy Park sculptures. While touring these places and more, the students were able to gain inspiration for the rest of the year.
After hearing all the class has to offer the question arises: How do I take that? And most of the SAP students have similar stories and it all starts with Ahrens.
“I peer pressure them into taking this class!” giggles Ahrens.
Usually during the second semester of sophomore year Ahrens finds a promising art student or just someone who hangs out in the art room whenever they can and suggests they take it.
“Sometimes students ask to take this class,and then I require them to send samples of their artwork. Because I don’t teach the class, really, so they have to figure it out for themselves. So if they don’t have baseline skills it won’t be successful. So they need foundational art skills. I also usually ask that they have at least two semesters of a studio class so that they can gain those skills with me, but once and a while I make an exception to that rule; if it’s a student who makes artwork a lot like on their own outside of school,” Ahrens warned.
A fabulous exception to this rule is Kaylee Kintzel! When students think of Kintzel they know she’s an amazing wrestler, AG student, and kind soul, but few know she is also a phenomenal ceramic artist. Her first art class was Ceramics One followed by Ceramics two her junior year.
“My second semester of junior year and she said ‘you should take senior art portfolio’ and I go ‘oh, ok, sure!’” Kintzel explained.
Not really knowing what she would get into, led to her even doing ceramics at home! That is where her farmhouse aesthetic comes from but there are other ways artists gain inspiration.
“Sometimes I feel like I don’t have any inspiration, so that’s when I go to like pinterest and try to like ‘oh okay, I can make something similar to that,’” Kintzel said.
The way each day goes is up to each individual, which means there are a lot of executive decisions they have to make. Starting at the theme, to each piece, to materials, and how long they will give themselves to complete the required eight pieces.
“I feel like quite a few people had this problem in senior art portfolio. But I would just sit here my entire class period and not do anything because I didn’t have the motivation because there was technically no due date,” Grace Meier-Gast said.
Even though most of the SAP and JAP students don’t plan on going into an art career, many are grateful for how much Ahrens pours into their creativity.
“I hope that it prepares them to continue making art when they’re in their own life and nobody is, you know, writing assignments for them or making deadlines for them,” said Ahrens.
