MAINE WEST
VISUAL ART
2021/2022
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.
Photo 1 Field Trip
Students from Ms.LLoyd's and Ms.Kljajic's Photo 1 class went on a photo hunt in downtown Chicago using 35mm film cameras.
Our Chicago Architectural Photography portfolio is the end of the year summative. 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.
The student works of art from this field trip will be on display in the Maine West Art Show, also in the display case in lower e-wing. I can also say that some of this work will be on display in our new area, as well as shows in the fall of 2022.
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
Held at the LRC, this show featured all grades and levels across all our visual arts classes. 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.
Beyond These Walls
A curated sampling of art created by West students OUTSIDE of the walls of West. Many students at West create art - with a variety of media - outside of the school day. Some students even sell their art to the community or via sites like Etsy. This art exhibit is an opportunity for self-motivated artists at West to showcase the work they are doing independently.
You are encouraged to check out the exhibit in lower E wing!
A HUGE thank you to Ms. Lahart for organizing this wonderful exhibit and opportunity for the students of Maine West!
Visiting Artist- Kelly Fitzgerald
Guest speaker, Kelly Fitzgerald, a Maine West Alumna and local professional photographer with her own portrait studio, The Fitzgerald Studio, visited Ms. Lloyd's photography classes this past week. She talked with students about the business aspect of being a photographer and running an independent, small business. Working as an artist is a viable and lucrative career path, but requires multi-faceted skills and a lot of time and energy spent on "non-art" tasks. Some of the topics she introduced to the students included: branding, marketing, sales, customer service and customer satisfaction.
After the lesson on running a business, Ms. Fitzgerald taught a lesson on studio lighting because Maine West Photography students are just about to start their studio portrait unit.
The Best of the Best Exhibit
Displayed from December 2nd, 2021 through January 11th, 2022 in the Des Plaines Public Library Meeting Room Hallway showcases artwork by exceptional student artists from Maine West and District 62 schools.
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.
