The graphics program, part of the Career and Technical Education Department here at the high school, consists of dedication and passion in moving ideas into life. It is a class focusing on photography, printing, art history, personal art, design, fashion, still life and figure drawing. The class takes over three hours of hard work, creation, interactions, connections and learning. Melody Figgie, teacher of Design and Visual Communications teaches two classes taking over 2 hours each; this story will focus on her Period 4-6 class consisting of sophomores and juniors who have grown bonds and inspiration off each other.
Figgie and two students express their story and perspective of being featured in the class. Starting with the mentor herself Ms. Figgie. Ms. Figgie didn’t always think she would be where she is now. Back in college her first major was in fashion design for 2 years. In her years of college there was a student she looked up to who had a cool fashion style, during these years she was certain she would become a fashion designer. As she got more into it she saw it as very intimidating and then eventually got into art education and it was a combination of the things she loves. A huge play in passion and ideas is having a spark. For Ms. Figgie her spark comes from seeing things that amaze her and translating them into something she made. She is proud of making things she can be amazed of. Everyone wants to portray something when sharing their art, she wants the viewer to feel something. Figgie hopes she shows what life is like, humans showing interactions and emotion. Without Ms. Figgie this class could not be the one it is and the students would not get the experience they have.
Violet Kelly, sophomore, loves Graphics class. She claims it has brought so much value into her life and learned so many lessons to apply. Kelly says, “The opportunity to do something I love is very valuable.” In the future she would love to continue into the similar field of what she is doing now. She knows it is very competitive but enjoys making art to bring joy and stories to others and says “art from your head to paper is so cool.” Kelly also describes the community of the class as mostly supportive but different beliefs can bring disagreements but overall is much better than her other classes.
Carter Remilliard’s inspirations spark from Disney Pixar movies, one of his favorites being “Soul”. He wants to be a part of it one day and one of his favorite memories from the class is actually making a short film in the woods and making up the actions with his class as they went. He describes the class as casual and building upon each other to improve. Like Violet this class has also brought value into his life. He cherishes the friendships he made and the value of being able to express himself. Remillard is very hopeful he continues in the path of creating forms of art in the future as well.
Based on the three opinions of Ms. Figgie, Violet Kelly and Carter Remillard they all have learned valuable lessons:
Figgie says, “ You can’t change or control people in positions of power, always have a collaborative spirit.”
Kelly says, “Don’t compare yourself, love your own art, be original.”
Remillard says, “There is no real failure, a thing you make is a thing you make, if you like it, you like it, if you don’t make it again.”
