Students often enter the classroom expecting another boring lesson, but any student in art class can tell a different story. Preparation for art events such as the ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) and the 19th District Congressional Art Competition, sponsored by Congressman George Radanovich has proved otherwise.

Later on in the semester?with sweaty palms and crossed fingers?students eagerly await the news of their scores both in and out of the classroom.

The ACSI Art Festival is an event that the school participates in every year. This time, the festival was held on April 29 in Modesto. Students from all grades and schools, kindergarten through grade 12 are free to come and compete. Students ranging from grades 7 through 12 represented campus this year.

The art presented at the festival can include painting, drawing, scratchboard, collage, sculptures, mosaics, and many other creative forms of art. Judges grade each piece and give it one of four titles: Poor, fair, excellent, and superior.

The 18 students representing campus brought pieces of many different sorts.

?I like to present a variety of art,? Sharon Scharf, art teacher, said. ?It shows that we have depth as well as quality. I chose the pieces from the quality of the work; I felt our school was well represented.

Ie Run Jung, ?08, received two excellent scores for her watercolor and collage.

?I had been working on those two for most of the semester,? Jung said. ?I wish I could?ve got superior scores, but I?m still happy getting an excellent.?

Corrine Pogue, ?06, received a superior for her oil painting and also received the grade 12 Best of Show. The painting featured a map of the world with faces of young people from different countries.

On May 12, the Radanovich Art Festival also put Pogue and Jung?s artwork to the test.
Jung?s pastel of a young girl holding sunflowers received an honorable mention.

Pogue?s painting featured a firefighter holding a Bible. She named it ?A Fireman?s Strength,? the inspiration for the painting came from a picture she saw in the newspaper of a New York fireman during September 11 tragedy.

Pogue?s ?A Fireman?s Strength? and Jung?s pastel are now hanging at Fresno?s City Hall until May 29. And as per U.S. Congressman George Radanovich?s request, Pogue?s painting will then be transferred to a wall in Radanovich?s office for one year.

Jennifer Boudreau, grade 8, also won Best of Show for her grade at the ACSI festival.

Pogue has been taking art classes throughout her high school career, and hopes to keep her hobby going

?This year has been a lot of fun,? Pogue said. ?I?m going to university to be a nurse, and if I have the time I hope to continue art and take some classes.?

Scharf?s role over the year has been more of a facilitator.

?With Ie Roon and Corrine, I don?t have to do any real ?teaching?,? Scharf said. ?They already have the talent, the motivation, the drive- for them; it?s really my job to just provide them with helpful critique and criticism.

?I feel that it?s worthwhile going so that we can compare ourselves against other Christian schools,? Scharf said. ?Modesto High School is always the school that we most closely compete with every year.?

For more information on the art program, contact Sharon Scharf at [email protected].