The Memory Project portraits that the OHHS Drawing and Printmaking students created earlier this fall were successfully delivered to the children and teens in Nigeria! This year, students at OHHS created 45 portraits for Nigerian Children.

Nigeria is a country located on the western coast of Africa with a bustling economy and geography as diverse as its people. It is home to over 250 ethnic groups with over 500 languages and a variety of customs and traditions. Since 2014, over 2.4 million Nigerians have been displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, living far away from home in fear of the next attack and kidnapping by the terrorist organization. Now, they suffer from additional destruction and displacement caused by warring factions of herders and farmers as they battle over resources, land, and religion. Still, Nigerian children hope for a safe present and a better future. The portraits the students made for the school children in Nigeria will remind each child of their own strength and beauty; it will show them that someone living far away is paying attention to the challenges that they face.

The people at The Memory Project wanted us to know that the children were so excited to receive the portraits and absolutely loved them! They fully understood that creating the portraits was a way to show them how much the students care about their well-being and their future. The following video of the delivery begins with an introduction to our Drawing and Printmaking students and their work and then shows the children receiving their portraits together at all the different locations that were involved.

The County level PTA Reflections winners have been announced. “Look Within” is the theme for this year’s PTA Reflections Program which has been bringing the arts to life form more than 10 million students since 1969. Reflections encourages students of all ages to: unleash creative talents and be inspired; express themselves imaginatively in their artwork; experience the fun and joy of making art; tap into critical-thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme, and receive positive recognition for their original works of art.

The winning entries have been sent on for further judging at the State level and could advance as far as the state and national level! Congratulations to the following OHHS Art and Design students on their accomplishments:

Photography
Darrien Bockting
Kayla Kessen
Kyla Sprague

Visual Arts
Cailee Plunkett
Carly Shiplett
Selena Holmes

Congratulations to the 4 OHHS Art and Design students whose art was selected as a High Merit piece for the Fall 2019 Celebrating Art competition and publication! Having a High Merit award means the art was an exceptional piece. Out of thousands of entries received for the Fall 2019 contest, it stood out as being one of the top 5% submitted. Students who have art selected as High Merit work will receive special recognition in the book as it is displayed as a High Merit piece.

Congratulations to the following students:

From Ms. Kopf’s Painting and Mixed Media class:

Susan Park

Susan Park

From Ms. Schorsch’s Studio Art AP 2D Design and Drawing class:

Alyssa McRoberts
Destanie Sexton
Mackenzie Sexton

Alyssa McRoberts

Mackenzie Sexton

Destanie Sexton

Congratulations to Ms. Schorsch’s Drawing and Printmaking student, William Weinheimer, on being selected to represent our Legislative District and OHHS at this year’s Exhibition! As part of a year-long celebration of the arts and arts education, the artwork of William Weinheimer, a freshman at Oak Hills High School, has been selected to exhibit his drawing “Not a Care in the World” at the 2020 Ohio House of Representatives Student Art Exhibition.

Now in its fifth year, the exhibition is open to the public at the Vern Rife Center for Government and the Arts lower level Statehouse connector from June 2020 through June 2021. The Riffe Center is open during regular business hours year-round.

The Ohio Arts Council joined with the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Art Education Association to mount a student exhibition representing all 99 House districts in the State of Ohio. The exhibition recognizes the talent, creativity, and innovation of students who receive high-quality arts education instruction as part of their academic experience in school. It represents are by some of Ohio’s finest high school artists.

William will be invited to represent Legislative District 30th at the statewide exhibition reception in the fall of 2020 to celebrate creativity, education, the arts, and their talents.

For more information about the partnering organizations please visit:
Ohio House of Representatives: http://www.ohiohouse.gov
Ohio Art Education Association: http://www.oaea.org
Ohio Arts Council: oac.ohio.gov