With this school’s hidden hallways and classrooms, there is no doubt that many miss the artwork along the art hallway. Among these pieces are the murals painted on the wall just before entering the dance hall and theater.
“Students painted the murals about 12 years ago,” Art teacher Nancy Kizis said. “The students’ art teacher was Judy Lattray at the time. They used a projector to copy the art pieces onto the walls. The significance of the murals is to allow the students to see famous art work in their school without having to go to a museum.”
The other art pieces along the walls are done by fellow students here now.
“I feel good when I walk by my art work in the hallway,” Sophomore Erica Bourland said. “I don’t think people actually care about my art though.”
In harmony with this, many may forget and not take notice of what is in the hallways.
“During school tours, ones who pass through the art halls take notice of the murals and other art pieces and may wonder about them,” Kizis said, “but over time, they forget and overlook them. The art should be cared about though because if you notice, we use art in our daily lives anyway. The music we listen to, the cars we drive, our houses, they were designed by an artist. Even the clothes we wear are designed by an artist.”
And even when some may not care about the art work along the halls, student artists still take pride in their art work.
“I really don’t care if people don’t look at my art,” Bourland said, “I spent almost three weeks on it and I feel accomplished and that’s all that matters. I think my art means that there are still people who still care about it since it’s displayed.”
With the murals and art work by students, our halls are alive and Rider pride is expressed. After all, this is a Fine Arts school.
“It’s important to have art in public places because it enriches our lives,” Kizis says.