Hayesville High School hosted its Spring semester Art and Photography show Tuesday night on May 16th. It was an amazing event with a variety of artwork from high school and middle school students. There were several categories awarded by 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mention ribbons. Art was categorized depending on the medium of each piece. Some of those categories were oil painting, acrylic painting, sculpture, clay, graphite drawing, mixed media, collage, and watercolor. Everyone at HHS was able to see how much work and effort art teacher Mrs. Engelmann and her students put into setting up this semester’s art show throughout the past week, especially on the night of the art show.

During the event, parents and students could see all of the students’ work and accomplishments as well as the awards they were granted. The art show was judged by Hayesville High School graduate Ashley Murray, an art major at Young Harris College and a double major in art and graphic design. According to Mrs. Engelmann, Ashley Murray awarded each and every piece unbiased, strictly based on how students portrayed their artistic talent in each of their pieces. 

Some of the most awarded and  popular pieces of art were done by Hayesville High School students, including Freshman Oakland Mackey. Mackey won a second-place award for their mixed media project called “A New Friend”, and an acrylic painting of Marsha P. Johnson.  Mackey says that they take inspiration for art from their “own life experiences”. Oakland has been taking art with Mrs. Engleman for about 2 years now.

Another Art Show winner is Freshman Jaidis Haney, who received several 1st place ribbons for her paintings and sculptures. Her winning pieces include an oil painting called “Evil Dead”, an acrylic painting inspired by the movie “Pan’s Labyrinth”, a mixed media painting, and two original sculptures. Haney says that most of her inspiration for her art, especially when it comes to paintings, is from horror media and movies that she enjoys. Jaidis has been taking art for 3 years and suggests the class to other students because “ Mrs. Engelmann is a  nice teacher and there are lots of opportunities to do things you’ve never done before like traveling and you get to improve your art skills.” 

Overall, the Art Show was a great experience for students, parents, and teachers to come and observe students’ artistic abilities and talents. There was also a small photography exhibit from Mrs. Carla Beck’s Journalism class. Photographers were awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons. The winners of the Photography show were Kyleigh Upegui who won first place, Brooke Graves for second place, and Bronte Bigham for third place. This Semester’s Art show was stunning and made lots of students and parents excited to see what Mrs. Engelmann and the art students plan for the next school year’s Art Show.