The newest edition to the 2024-2025 school year: The Vault. Its grand opening will be held on Friday, January 31 during lunchtime.
At the end of last school year, a shipping container was delivered and placed in between the D and J buildings with the goal of being turned into an Art Gallery.
With Proposition 28, lending a grant of funds to the arts, Avery Arman was able to make this dream of having a permanent art room available for the campus.
Arman is head of the VAPA department chair, the yearbook advisor, and also teaches the drawing and painting classes here at SJHHS.
This idea has been around for a while as, “Four years ago Mrs. Bak-Boychuk talked about wanting to have art in the quad where kids could experience it more. We thought about needing to have a more dedicated space and time for student expression other than the performing arts,” said Arman.
This developing project came together through the help of Mr. MacDonald and his BITA class as they had helped and planned materials for flooring, solar panels, and lighting of the container
“I think art is really powerful and I think kids have a lot to say and experience so much. I think it can promote more of a sense of community and understanding of each other and help kids feel less alone,” said Arman.
Though the container is meant to showcase art on the inside of it, Mrs. Arman wants to turn the whole project into a work of art by having the outside of the container be painted with a mural.
“I love painting and I have helped theater paint their sets, so I thought it was a fun experience to work on bigger projects because they are seen more,” said AP Drawing student Chelsea Jones (12).
With the establishment of this new art project it will allow for more collaboration on art students to have free range by putting on their own shows in the container. From creating a theme, to making the art, and putting together the programs.
“I feel like it will bring people together and inspire students to get into art. I think it is a cool opportunity to have your art showcased at school and make lunch more entertaining,” said Jones.
There are so many different ways this container can bring together the school by gaining aid from all types of all classes to influence art like ceramics, photography, and even English or creative writing.
Art is something that each and every one of us has and to have a sense of community where expression is all around, is a true goal of why the art container is becoming a reality.
“I am hoping our campus community will get to experience all the incredible things that are happening in the visual arts on a more regular basis. I think it will promote more understanding of each other and create a new perspective of how kids approach and use their gifts to process everything they are going through,” said Arman.
