Artwork by two dozen Hamburg Area High School students is on display at the Gallery of Hamburg, 335 State Street. Pieces range from paintings and pastel drawings to ceramic pieces and graphic art. The artists, their family and friends gathered with members of the local art community for a reception at the gallery on Thursday, Jan. 19.
Hamburg sophomore Aayushi Shah attended the reception with her mother. Three of her pieces are in the exhibit including paintings and pastel drawings.
“I’ve been drawing for many years,” Shah said, noting she was inspired to create an image of a sunset, now on display in the gallery window. “The colors are mixed nicely. It was my first time using pastels and I like how it came together.”
Hamburg senior Steve Sherwood knew he was included in the show, but didn’t know what was selected until the night of the reception. He admits he has a hard time drawing by hand but found he could create unique art using computer graphic programs.
“I went online and found a picture of Luke Kuechley [of the North Carolina Panthers],” Sherwood said. “Then I drew it from there. I used Photoshop.”
Gabriela Simons, another senior featured in the exhibit, was inspired to create one piece after the recent death of popular Sci-Fi actress Carrie Fisher.
“I’m just a Star Wars fan and it was a personal project,” Simons explains of the portrait, her favorite of the three items she had on display Thursday night. “It was a tribute. I did it after I heard she died.”
Sophomore Sylver Boyer said she has enjoyed creating ceramics and painting acrylics in the school’s art class, but her favorite is painting in oils. Her self-portrait was painted in this medium and is in the Hamburg show.
“I like painting, but I’m not always fond of pictures of me. I’m happy with how [the portrait] turned out,” she said.
Senior Helen Kershner was another featured artist. If she had to pick a favorite of her pieces, Kershner said she’d pick a ceramic mask fashioned to look like a bird.
“A friend of mine really likes owls,” she said, explaining the process used to roll out the clay and shape it into the mold before firing the piece. “I didn’t glaze it, though. I painted it.”
Kershner plans to give the mask to a friend once the student art show closes. All the pieces will be on display in the Hamburg gallery through Tuesday, Jan. 31.
Other students featured in the Hamburg Gallery exhibit include freshmen Alyssa Amadoro, Kaitlyn Barlow, Kathleen Crider, LoyDawnTae Miranda and Catharine Wingle; sophomores Quinn Aguiar, Derrick Boltz, Katelyn James and Natalie Macbeth; juniors Kyra Neff and Samantha Schneber; and seniors Mckenzie Carter, Gianna Castellitto, Cassidy Cordwell, Christianna Flaherty, Nicolette Goggins, Kellie LaPearl, Emilee Sassaman and Alexis Stump.
Some students submitted pieces for consideration, while others were selected by Hamburg High School art teacher Rebecca Dommel, who believes it is important to provide opportunities for students to display their work in their community.
“It brings more light to their individual gifts and talents,” Dommel said. “My students work hard and do a great job. I think their passions come forth through their artwork, and it is demonstrated in the display. I am proud of them.”
Dina Madera, art director of the Hamburg Art Alliance, notes that this is the second year the gallery has featured local students in a show.
“I would encourage the public to come so they see the current generation’s talent and perspective and realize that art is important to the development of our youth,” Madera said. “Programs like this should be encouraged and supported.”
The Alliance encourages teens interested in the arts to join a new Young Artists Collaborative. Led by Hil Eldridge, the teen art group will meet at the Hamburg Strand Theatre on Sunday, Feb. 19, March 5 and March 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. to exercise their talent in an interactive atmosphere. No registration is required, and students will pay a $10 fee at the door.
The collaborative class is one of several options on the Hamburg Area Art Alliance spring schedule. Others include a blacksmith class beginning March 6, basket weaving the evening of March 8 and a children’s craft class in April. Classes are supported by the Berks County Arts Fund of Berks County Community Foundation. For details or to register, contact Dina Madera 610-562-3106.
