The art department’s annual Retrospective was held on May 1, showcasing the students’ hard work throughout the school year.
This year’s theme was inspired by the rats that occasionally visit the art room, coined “Rat-trospective,” by AP Art senior Naomi Lee. Her theme was meant to inspire creativity and uniqueness, properly representing the students and their work. The National Art Honor Society students were responsible for the decorations along with the t-shirt designs, the competition getting them into the spirit for Retrospective.
“Naomi Lee’s Ratopia-themed display was not only visually clever but also invited others to participate by drawing their own rats to add to her imaginative city, complete with custom coloring pages,” art teacher Olivia Hooper said.
The retrospective began in 1989, founded by the previous president of NAHS, starting out as a showcase displaying a few art pieces. Over the years, it has evolved to now include a variety of art work from students across different levels. The exhibition is now at a larger scale, causing it to be an important event for the art department and school.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see their growth throughout the year and to share their achievements with families, friends, and the wider community,” art teacher Holly Gottula said. “The Retrospective is one of the most joyous moments of the year for me, as it highlights not just the art, but the creativity, dedication, and personal stories behind each piece.”
The students work on preparing for Retrospective all year long in order to showcase the growth they had in their artwork. For instance, AP Art students paint five full-sized 4’x8′ insulation boards to showcase their work, while Art I students use smaller boards. Students also need to ‘mat’ their artwork, which is displaying a tag with a title and what mediums were utilized. Alhough there is not a lot of time to work on decorating the boards, it feels rewarding to see different student’s artistic journeys.
“From designing the boards, to the formatting and placement of pieces, to even the titles people have, you’re bringing everything together so it can work cohesively,” senior Niko Kahler said. “Bringing everything together on boards into one big art piece is as big a challenge as making an individual work.”
Participating in Retrospective is important to not only the art students, but also the teachers. As junior Naomi Leong noticed, artists aren’t able to showcase their work as regularly compared to the other fine art departments. By doing Retrospective, they are able to present their art as well as observe what their peers have been working on throughout the year.
“Art is often misunderstood as simply coloring or crafting, but in reality, it involves complex problem-solving, creativity, and personal expression,” Gottula said. “I want viewers to feel the passion behind each piece and recognize the potential and future opportunities that lie ahead for these talented young artists.”
