Art gallery shows off CV artists

Students and adults walked around the Adobe Art Gallery as they took in the personal, heartfelt art pieces filling the room, created by CVHS and other students for the “Origin Stories: The Story Within” art show on Dec. 4.

“This project gave the students the opportunity to choose a story that’s deeply resonant within themselves and portray it through storytelling,” said Jennifer Jervis, one of the advisers for the art show.

Autobios and art boxes made by CVHS students enrolled in the Art and Self course, as well as students outside CVHS who contributed their own media, were on display at the Adobe Art Gallery.

Students used various materials to create their mixed media, such as fabric, acrylic paint, a clipboard, and many other pieces. 

Different boxes consisted of creations that were either objects, animals, places, or plants. Although the individual boxes all had one thing in common. Each piece came from a special place in their heart. 

The art boxes showcased at the event represented student’s personal identities and experiences.

From ranging to ethnic experiences, family relationships, cultural traditions, and immigration, students turned a personal part of themselves into something beautiful. 

“Bitter Yet Sweet” by Evelyn Yang, CVHS student, made a mixed media of two coffee cups, one with steam coming out and the other with creamer getting poured in. Surrounding the coffee cups were pills, scattered on top of a music sheet.

Yang’s piece represented the hardships with their father. In the writing that goes along with the art box, Yang described their dad and wrote about themself. 

The music sheet was included because of their journey in the orchestra to where they are now.

The pills on the sheet were antidepressants that both Yang and their father took. This piece highlights how the two of them struggled to keep fighting. Yang did, their father did, until he could no longer. 

This was just one of the many incredible art pieces where students expressed their personal lives. 

Each art piece came with a written message to describe their work. Students’ messages further explained the depth of their work, also letting those who read their passage feel emotionally connected.

“The Story Within” art show really helped give students a voice to share a special part of their lives that they might have not been able to comfortably convey before. 

“I decided to make my piece on experiences of transformation, regarding my mom, and I did a project on her heritage coming from the Philippines to America. She brought her heritage along and taught me about it and helped me embrace my Filipino culture,” said Anny Murphy, a CVHS student who created “Mahal Kita.”