Figments of Your Imagination

Kinetic creative energy caresses the air in CHS classroom #201, as energetic teens put finishing touches on the artwork each high schooler is creating for the upcoming “Figments of Your Imagination ” exhibition, a culmination of these visual arts students’ year of work in Coronado School of the Arts (CoSA) at CHS. Opening on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in the C3 Gallery at the Coronado Community Center, this student created and curated exhibition is a partnership with CoSA and the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission

The public is invited to an Opening Reception that evening, from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM in the Nautilus Room at the Community Center as students, teachers, and administrators mingle with guests and emerging artists explain the genesis behind their individual pieces and creative work. Everything from acrylic portraits and still life paintings to ceramics and charcoal is planned for display, highlighting the creative genius behind more than 20 remarkable teens who spend hours, after the standard school day ends, acquiring new skills, learning an array of artistic techniques, and honing their creative talents in an effort to express their individuality and passion.

Head in Landscape - Kate Bell

On a recent Friday afternoon, when the rest of the CHS campus had quickly cleared for spring break, these committed creatives convened in the CoSA art studio well past the final bell to work on their projects in anticipation of the launch of “Figments of Your Imagination ”

When asked why that title for this upcoming art exhibition, Dean Richards, a Junior and third year student in CoSA explains, “We had a brainstorming session, and we all came up with this title and agreed upon it.”

And a fitting title it is, since the Oxford dictionary defines imagination as “the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses ” According to acclaimed scientist Carl Sagan, “Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.” After speaking personally with several of these CoSA artists, it is clear these students are definitely going somewhere!

When asked why he enrolled in CoSA, Richards explains that he’s always loved art. “I knew that if I wanted to make a career out of art, I’d need to build my skills.” He describes himself as “very much an impressionistic artist,” noting that acrylic painting is his staple, but he also likes drawing and trying different mediums

Wizard - Dean Richards

He further explains, “I’m an impressionist who explores the surreal and wonderous,” noting that he draws inspiration from “whatever I am interested in at the time, or what fascinates me ” Recently he’s been highly influenced by the Ukrainian professional painter Aleksandr Kryushyn, a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine since 2012.

For the exhibit, Richards selected several of his favorite pieces for display, including an acrylic Wizard (pictured here), along with a still life to which he has applied a Renaissance approach “I’m very much into ‘maverickism,’” he notes as he defines his methodology toward artistic expression, and he particularly appreciates the independence and freedom the CoSA creative process provides.

Another Junior, Kate Bell notes that she selected five different pieces for the exhibition, four of nature and another she describes as more abstract and stylistic. One piece that she is particularly proud of is a self-portrait depicting her coming out of a jungle To describe this work, she explains, “This piece shows me emerging and coming into my own, representing my journey of coming into my own element.” Another piece (pictured here) is a surrealistic acrylic showing a head sinking into a landscape.

When asked where she gets creative inspiration, she notes, “Everything around me is inspiring when conceptualizing Even current issues and then using artwork to talk about them ” She referenced a piece she’d created in a CoSA collaboration with Coronado’s conservationist group Emerald Keepers just last year. Tasked with turning trash into art, Bell collected scrap AriZona Tea cans and converted them into a 3D crab encased in a shadow box When auctioned off at an Emerald Keepers’ fundraising event, her carefully crafted crab garnered $200 in profits for the organization.

Orozio Okhuysen

When asked why she joined CoSA, Bell explains that she enrolled in an art class during her freshman year, and veteran art teacher Laura Hill suggested that she should apply to the conservatory Now, two years into the program, she confides, “I didn’t expect it to be like this at all I’ve learned a lot about technique, built skills, and enjoy communicating with other people who also do art.” Student collaboration and feedback is definitely a hallmark of this program which has led Bell to conclude, “I totally see myself growing, finding my style, and developing my own body of work ”

Junior student Emi Hitson, one of the curators of this upcoming exhibition, originally joined CoSA as a freshman in their digital arts program. “It just wasn’t clicking with me,” she explains, so during her sophomore year transferred to the visual arts platform Her eyes light up as she explains, “I like acrylic painting, but I like it all – markers, clay, paint pens, and sketching ” For the exhibit Hitson selected five of her favorite pieces of animal artwork – an octopus (pictured here), bear, skunk, okapi, and her family’s late dog. For the typically black-and-white okapi she explains, “I altered the colors It was my personal mark, but it’s hard to describe ”

Octopus - Emi Hitson

When asked about the length of her day, given the fact that in addition to the four classes she takes during regular school hours, there’s a fifth period in the CoSA visual arts studio, she explains, “It’s such a blessing to come her This is such a safe place Plus, it’s nice to have this break between regular schoolwork and then doing homework.”

CoSA visual arts instructor Karrie Jackson, a 1998 graduate of Coronado High School, and one of the initial alumni from the CoSA program, circles through the studio throughout the afternoon, checking in on students’ progress, providing words of encouragement and praise, while also connecting as an artist and compassionate educator with each of her students. Jackson began teaching at CoSA 11 years ago, and in addition to developing and implementing the visual arts curriculum, serves as the CoSA coordinator, oversees three graphic design interns, and is a member of the CoSA Foundation

An acclaimed artist for almost 30 years, she has both a professional perspective and love of of learning that truly endears her to these students and equally inspires them One past CoSA student said, “Karrie is hands-down the best teacher I have ever had She taught me much more than just art ” Another confided, “Karrie taught the importance of true creativity; as something simple, inspiring, playful and relevant in all aspects of life I am forever grateful for her, as she inspired my artistic interests to flourish into a passion ”

What is truly remarkable about Jackson is that she had fine-tuned, cherry picked, and personalized her program to such a degree that it is intended to provide student artists with a curriculum that models a four-year college experience In designing her lesson plans, Jackson relies heavily on Advanced Placement (AP) Art standards and rubrics; the Atelier Method; college prep instruction; and student feedback.

Every year, as different emerging artists enroll in this program, Jackson must further fine-tune and refine her daily lesson plans, explaining, “I reinvent the curriculum tailored to each artist individually I figure out what each of them need, and then tailor instruction to their needs ” However, what does remain constant is the rigorous syllabus structure Jackson relies on to instruct and develop each of these artists. As stated in that 14-page syllabi, which clearly details the rigors of this program, “CoSA Visual Arts include 4 levels, Years 1, 2, 3 and 4, however each student matures at a different rate, each with varying intents and focuses Each year students are expected to increase their personal level of performance and production. Each student is assessed on their individual progress.”

Olivia McKissick

As they say, “the proof is in the pudding,” but in CoSA’s case it’s definitely “the artwork ” CoSA’s caliber of students are so accomplished that past graduates have been accepted and awarded top scholarships to not only the highly prestigious Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), but also the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI), California College of the Arts, Yale University, and Laguna College of Art and Design to name but a few

The Opening Reception for “Figments of Your Imagination” is Tuesday, April 18 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in the Nautilus Room at Coronado Community Center, 1845 Strand Way. Refreshments will be served. The opening is free and open to the public. The exhibition runs through mid- May in the C3 Gallery, providing our entire community with an excellent opportunity to witness the astounding artistic talent emerging right here in Coronado, and “imagine” the possibilities for these students’ creative futures.

Leah Schrum