Due to problems with funding, the art club was disbanded in the 2015-2016 school year. Then the next year, the former art teacher and sponsor of the club, Michael Leistner retired. It seemed very likely that the club would not return, but thanks to the enthusiasm of some of FHN’s artists and the ingenious idea of doing so unofficially, by art teacher Mandy Knight, the club has returned and is at work on their annual mural.

“The club is a good place for the artists in our school to be represented,” said Knight

The club meets in room 160 whenever Knight is available. Usually meetings involve students from her classes using the time to do extra work on their pieces and sharing ideas and inspiring each other. The club is not officially funded, but usually has an attendance as large as ten at some meetings.

“I heard about it in AP Art Studio,” said senior Gabbie Fitch. “It gives me time after school to work on studio pieces.”

At one of their meetings, club members decided to do two murals. One is to make up for not doing one last year and another for this year. The two murals are recreations of “Great Wave Off Kanagawa” by Hokusai and “The Kiss (Lovers)” by Gustav Klimt.

“[Junior] Kylie Keene, [junior] Kate Bascio and I drew the basic sketch of the wave,” said junior Haley Peer. “The next few days I helped [senior] Madeline Lamb in painting the base blue color, followed by brighter blue lines. I also sketched the white space on the wave.”

The club is open to all who want to spend time making art and seeks to do many projects in the coming years. They plan to continue work on the mural in the coming months and will also brainstorm new ways to showcase the best that the artists at FHN have to offer.

“Being a part of art club gives me time to relax and separate myself from the stress of school,” said Peer. “Along with working with people I like.”

Gallery • 3 Photos

Credit to Michaela Erfling

An evolution of one of the murals art students have created.