Schools

Cause for Applause: 25th Anniversary of High School Art Show

Eileen Mandell: "Even in these difficult times, our district schools maintain high-quality art programs. The caliber of work is so high that several of our programs receive articulated college credit."

To the editor:

Twenty-five years ago, while I was the Art Department chairperson at Mount Miguel High School, a gentleman contacted me with an idea on how to promote the arts in our schools. Robert Flam went to one of our East County high schools. He talked about how the arts kept him in school. After high school, Mr. Flam apprenticed with a local jeweler until he opened his own jewelry store in El Cajon.

He wanted to make sure that students [25 years ago] understood the importance of the arts. He wanted students to know that “art pays.”

At that point, Mr. Flam took out 10 $100 bills, and said he wanted to start an art exhibit to promote the arts and make certain that students knew that they could make a living in the arts. He wanted to give $1,000 in prize money to students creating high-quality artwork. While Robert Flam has since moved out of the area, the art exhibit is larger and stronger than ever.

The district student art exhibition has grown and developed into a premiere exhibit of student art over these past 25 years. Student work includes black and white drawing, color drawing, painting, photography, creative photography, digital arts, sculpture, functional ceramics, printmaking, metalwork/jewelry and mixed media.

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Approximately 12 years ago, the superintendent purchase award began. Since that time, every year during the opening reception, the GUHSD superintendent selects artwork to be purchased for the district, and hang in the district office.

The art show brings many community members to the mall and promotes our programs. This year, after the district art show, each school will send five pieces of art to  Mission Trails Regional Park for an extended show in their visitors center gallery. Mission Trails Regional Park will have an opening reception on Saturday June 4, to celebrate the extraordinary student artwork on display.

Even in these difficult times, our district schools maintain high-quality art programs. The caliber of work is so high that several of our programs receive articulated college credit. We encourage our students to enter many competitions from the congressional art competition to the San Diego County Fair and many in between. Our programs are standards-based and encourage literacy.

We hope you will be able to open the reception on Friday, May 20.

Sincerely,
Eileen Mandell
Photography/Digital Arts
Art Department Chairperson
Grossmont High School

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Editor’s Note: The district art exhibit will be May 20-22 at Westfield Parkway Shopping Center in El Cajon. See attached flier.


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