On Monday, March 30, St. Mary’s seniors showcased their artwork in the Maria Centre. From the beginning of their junior year to the final day before the exhibit opened, IB Visual Arts students worked tirelessly, crafting stories through their pieces. Students like Joe and Hector explored their creativity through unconventional methods, including a short film, a concrete painting, and even an interactive project where viewers could write anything they wanted on a collection of blank white shoes. Previous Artist of the Week winner Gregory presented his structure “Fractures,” alongside a series of introspective, melancholy paintings exploring his fears about the future of humanity.
The themes across the exhibit varied widely, revealing insights into each artist’s background. Students such as Jimin and Ignacio focused on more internal questions about their lives, including the essence of what it really means to be human and the experience of being torn between two cultures. In contrast, some students fixated on more external fears, such as Hectors’ fear and eventual acceptance of being forgotten by history, or James’s struggle with memory loss.
Looking toward the future, Ms. Steel reflected, “They [the juniors] have big shoes to fill.” Indeed, whatever next year’s exhibit brings to St. Mary’s, the artists will have to fulfill the immense expectations set by this year’s hands-on, conceptual, and introspective seniors.
