AP art at OHS
By Averie Grace-Hayes
Picture of students at the OHS art show taken by Averie Grace-Hayes
When one wants to look for truly exceptional art at OHS, they may peek through the door to see hardworking Advanced Placement Art students in Mr. Chambers’ room during second hour. These students work tirelessly all year for one finished portfolio. While working on this portfolio these students also enter in several different competitions and shows—one of those being the yearly OHS art show.
This is Mr. Chambers’ second year teaching at OHS, and with taking over the tasks of the AP Art classroom and the art show, Chambers has definitely made his mark in the art department this year.
“We had a theme this year [for the art show], and it was called ‘inspire your legacy’ and [the name was influenced by] Dr. Coates. She [gave] us a word of the year and I think it was ‘inspired.’” Chambers explains, “[The art show is] one of my biggest, most rewarding jobs. And it’s not actually just me taking it on. … We all just do it together.”
With this year being Chambers’ first time teaching the OHS AP students by himself, he has had the chance to genuinely reflect and see his students for who they are, through their artistry.
“It’s a very organic class. … The students have to understand that they’re making artwork on their own, and they’re doing research and hard work on their own.” Chambers expresses, “But they’re given a lot more advantages because they get to choose what they want to do and they get to choose where they want to go. It’s my job as an educator to get them to think … about their audience, [get] them to think about reflection … and modify and adjust and learn from other artists.”
Annastyn Washam has been in the AP Art class for two years.
Picture of Annastyn Washam with her artwork taken by Averie Grace-Hayes
Washam states, “Last year it was a bit chaotic because we had more people and two teachers but it was a lot of fun. But it’s a bit more coordinated [this year] which is nice.”
While being in AP Art, one has to complete a type of investigation for their portfolio. It has to focus on a concept, word or overall aesthetic.
Washam clarifies, “You have to focus on little projects [in the first semester] to get you ready for the big things later on. And then you spend the second semester going project by project [for the investigation] and you do the process over and over again.”
However, picking a theme for an investigation is a very difficult and long process for an artist.
“Since I’m not done [with the class] yet, I’m not done with my process, but it’s about expectations I guess, faced by people and myself that I expect. And that's kind [of] like my main inspiration this year,” Washam explains.
During Washam’s investigation she has to be able to connect her theme with the art that she makes.
Washam conveys “My latest one represents … the words against you and combating that. But I also wanted to show that she is weak because she doesn’t have armor, so it still affects her … and that’s kind of the meaning behind that one. The expectation [is to] be strong against words and not let it affect you.”
Picture of Annastyn Washam’s artwork taken by Averie Grace-Hayes
The OHS Art department is one of the most prestigious art programs at Owasso, and deservedly so, with the AP Art students being able to show this trait through their disciplined art process with beautiful end results.
