MAINE WEST
VISUAL ART
2022 / 2023
The activities in the art classes are designed to develop skills of perception, problem solving, understanding, and sensitivity through a variety of experiences. The aim of the art curriculum is to give the students an understanding and appreciation for the endless and constant results of artistic efforts which surround us in our daily lives. The unique character of the art curriculum provides students with an opportunity to express and nurture their creative instincts.
The Visual Arts Department has labs with well-equipped spaces dedicated to photography, ceramics and sculpture, mixed media, digital imaging and drawing.
Please click the drop down menu and view course descriptions and student work by class.
What have we have been up to all year?
Art Awards
On Thursday, April 28th, Visual Art students gathered for an end-of-year celebration of achievement at the Art Awards BBQ & National Art Honor Society induction ceremony.
CSL Art Show
45 Maine West student artists have works on exhibit at the Central Suburban League (CSL) Art Show. This non-competitive student art show features extraordinary works by student artists from around suburban Chicagoland. The culmination is an exhibit of some of the best student artwork from the area.
Bowls For Change
In honor of Women's History Month, the Maine West Fine Arts Department (Ceramics & Design students), Career and Technical Education Department (Culinary students), the National Art Honors Society and the Women's Empowerment Club are joining forces to present BOWLS FOR CHANGE, a benefit dinner raised funds for Wings and the MALALA Fund. Students and teachers made bowls in ceramics class and sold off to visitors, who then chose a tasty pasta dinner to fill their purchase.
Raku Firing
Ceramics and Design 2, 3, & Advanced created original works of art using the raku method during a half day workshop led by a local artist. These one of a kind pieces display colorful copper and crackle finishes. Students learned how to fire, stoke and shock their ceramic pieces in a very hands-on experience. The day promised lots of fire and smoke and we were lucky to have sunshine too!
Spotlight Art Exhibit
On Wednesday, February 22nd, Maine West student artists had their work on display for family and friends in a one-night-only pop-up art show and reception, the Spotlight Art Exhibit. This beautifully curated show filled the new C-Wing art suite, and the space bustling with friends and family who attended to support our student artists!
D62 Graduate Show
End of the year Art Exhibit. Held at the Des Plaines Public Library, this show exhibits work from 8th grade students and Maine West Seniors.
Art Dimensions Exhibit-
Road Trip Across America
Kicking off the 22/23 school year this show was held at the LRC and featured all grades and levels across all our visual arts classes. The theme this year is "Road Trip Across America." Students invited parents and enjoyed refreshments.
IHSAE
The 9th Annual Illinois High School Art Exhibition brings the best student artists from 100 Illinois suburban, public and private high schools to compete and celebrate the power of art in their lives. Four Maine West students will have have art in this prestigious art exhibit and competition.
IHSAE Art Throwdown
An in person Art Competition with approximately 30 students competition to showcase their creative talents in front of a live audience with a live model.
Congratulations to AMINA MUSIC for winning 1st Place in the IHSAE ArtConnectED sponsored Illustration Throwdown challlenge! IHSAE took the top 5 submissions from the popular vote, and then had the top five works adjudicated by a panel of art professionals and college professors.
Out of 51 submissions, Amina's piece placed 1st!
For placing 1st, Amina Music received a prize from Blick Art Materials.
IHSAE ArtConnectED sponsored a virtual Throwdown for Photography, where the students were given a prompt and had 90 minutes to create a triptych of images.
Congratulations to Addy De Rusha for winning Honorable Mention!
Visiting Artist-
Kelly Fitzgereald
Kelly Fitzgerald a former Maine West Graduate came in to talk with the Photo 2, 3 and AP students. Kelly is a professional photographer and her studio is in Des Plaines. Kelly demostrated how to use the studio lighting equipment prior to the students beginning their studio lighting lesson.
Visiting Artist-
Rhonda Popko
Rhonda Popko is a working artist. She works in multiple mediums and shared with the Photo 2, 3 and AP students how to create a wintergreen transfer. Rhonda also share some of the mixed media pieces she had created with the students. The students then went on a created their own mixed media artwork using wintergreen transfer.
Field Trip
The Grove and Chicago Botanical Garden
The Photo 2 and 3 students took a trip to The Grove and Chicago Botanical Gardens in the fall. The were taking photographs for their nature photography unit. At the Chicago Botanical Gardens they were shooting color film for the color photography unit. We also every year have a picnic at the Botanic Gardens, everyone brings something to share!
Field Trip
The Art Institute of Chicago Photography Studios
The AP 2D Design students were invited to go to the Art Institute Photography Studios by the Chief Photographer of the studio, Jon Mathais. Jon is a former Maine West graduate and events the advanced students every year to come down to the studios and talk about lighting art work and careers in the photography.
Field Trip
Chicago Walking Tour
The Photography 1 students take a trip in the spring downtown to take Architectural Photography. The students will be required to create a portfolio of work from this field trip. This portfolio will incorporate several different concepts that they have learned throughout the year demonstrating mastery of concepts. The students will also be working with their teachers to further understand how to use the manual settings on their cameras, demonstrating a higher level of thinking.
Middle School Art Workshops
Maine West hosted nearly 200 District 62 7th and 8th graders over the course of four Middle School Art Workshops. District 62 students were invited to Maine West to work in a variety of artistic mediums: drawing, painting, ceramics, photo, digital art, and design.