By Sarah Westergren, Online Editor-in-Chief
// A subtle melody. Soft, warm hues. Walls, covered in art.
It was the perfect ambiance at Lafayette’s Art Room last Friday night.
“I wanted to showcase a variety of student art and allow people to see their peers’ work,” Acalanes senior Anica Zulch said, an art student and office assistant to The Art Room on Lafayette Circle. “It’s a good experience for art students to go through the process of registering and showcasing in an art show.”
Previously tacking the business’ financial system, payroll, and website, Zulch took to organizing the third-ever student showcase, hosted on Dec. 7 from 7-9 p.m.
Some 150 bodies shuffled through the exhibit that night, listening to student-performers Alexander Gilberd and Cole Swensen in the background.
Alexander Gilberd and Cole Swensen
“I loved that there was live music,” senior Shannon McVay said. “It was really cool to see all of the different pieces of art and be able to recognize some of the names of the people that made them.”
Zulch received some 30 student-entries in total, collecting five pieces from Campolindo, one painting from Miramonte, and another from College Park High School in Pleasant Hill.
“There was a lot of outreach involved. I first designed a poster, got it printed, and put it up around campus. I went to other schools in the area and dropped posters at their offices, then contacting various photo teachers, art teachers, and digital design teachers,” Zulch said. “It was a long process of checking back in with them.”
After conferring with teachers for months, Zulch turned her attention towards publicity, drafting a page for The Art Room’s website and an e-newsletter.
“Overall, I think it was a success because there was no time where people weren’t there,” Zulch said, her hard work having paid off. “I had to tell people, ‘Hey, the show’s over!’ and all the walls were covered.”
Many art students left grateful for the opportunity at hand, including senior Katie Heaton.
“Having the chance for students to get their artwork out and display it in the community is so essential for these kids to progress,” Heaton said. “It’s really easy to fall into a self-critical cycle when comparing yourself to others in art classes, so getting exposure and validation from parents and other adults was essential.”
For further coverage, check out Blueprint‘s virtual tour below.
