Bright lights beam overhead, reflecting off of the glass display cases and glittering around the myriad of artwork presented on the walls. It’s an exhibit that reaches toward something beyond artwork. It reaches to the thoughts, the emotions, and the experiences that have played a role in inspiring the piece; a part of life that has been encapsulated and shared with the rest of us here at BEHS. I spoke with two students who’ve had their work shown in the art gallery. Olivia Mihm(9) and Violet Diderrich(11).

 Mihm explains that she made her piece, ‘Peaceful Pond,’ for her Digital Imaging. After visiting the Nature Center to take the photos, she was captivated by the tranquility she experienced and wanted to express that through her work. She elaborates that the pond was the center of this calm, surrounded by lush trees and flowers that created the serene scene. She added the rule of framing to the experience she derived by taking a photo between two bars in a fence. This photo framed her shot of the pond and the colors that were added transformed the moment she’d captured.

‘Birds of Paradise,’ Diderrich’s project, made in Digital Illustration, creates a lighthearted, whimsical quality. Inspired by surrealism—an art movement that strived to balance the rationality of life with the hazy mist of dreams and the unconscious—Diderrich’s work captures the euphoric state of being caught in between, opening our eyes to something more fanciful.

 She also finds the art gallery as a source of inspiration and a catalyst for her own creations. However, she did mention, “I wish there was more art on display at Brookfield East,” as it would be more beneficial. With a school that exerts more focus on academics and sports, and as a result, the full extent of the impact of art on our community isn’t addressed. 

The art gallery has inspired and continues to inspire others through the moments that are recreated and shared, ideas that are fully expressed and now tangible. In the art gallery, individuality and creativity are shown at their finest, connecting with us in a way that is beyond what we see.