The Pomona High School library was the setting for a student art exhibit that used the Day Of The Dead as a launching point to explore loss in all its many forms.
Pomona High School students shared their feelings of loss at a powerful art showcase titled Dia De Los Muertos: Expressions of Life and Remembrance. Visitors entered to a sea of traditional Dia De Los Muertos sugar skulls before moving on to walls of photographs, paintings, graphics, and sketches created and inspired by students at Pomona. Each were offered the opportunity to place a bright yellow marigold next to the piece of work that moved them most. By the end of the two-day show, the walls were covered with flowers.
“I wanted to give students a place – a platform – to share their loss and memories and grief,” said Pomona High School painting and drawing teacher Annie Scaglione. “Every student is going through [something] whether it’s depression or anxiety or loss… every student has something that’s missing.”
Some pieces featured a classical spin on the Day of the Dead. Others featured more modern interpretations.
“Traditionally, I think Day of the Dead is more of a celebration and remembrance than a creepy, kind of tragedy sort of thing, but people are definitely interpreting it in their own ways,” said tenth grade artist Angela Chawla.
Angela’s painting paid tribute to her uncle as a musician in New York City.
“I think mine is more of a celebration – I made it for my uncle. He used to live in New York City and he absolutely loved the city. It’s where he felt most at home,” said Angela.
Others, like twelfth grade artist Isaiah Wortham, blended multiple art forms to display their talents and interests.
“I like to draw stuff that’s biomechanical, so I thought that I would try it on a digital platform to incorporate with my dog,” said Isaiah. “I thought I’d draw a cyber-dog to represent how I would imagine my dog being resurrected.” His sci-fi infused piece featured a biomechanical canine pictured against a far away planet.
The show displayed work from every class level and every medium. Pomona AP studio art teacher Kim McGrath-Anderson applauded her students for their brave participation in the show.
“It’s a huge risk. It takes an amazing amount of courage to make the piece, to deal with that, and then to actually put it up,” she said.
Melissa Champion, Pomona photography and graphic design teacher, shared McGrath-Anderson’s gratitude for the hard work and willingness of students to share their personal stories through their artwork.
“I’m heartbroken in so many ways that there are so many things that they have to deal with that you would never know, and I’m also exceptionally proud that they are willing to expose those parts of themselves that are not always easy to do through their artwork,” said Champion.
Twelfth grade artist Sean Fitzpatrick created a graphic to urge his fellow students not to dwell on the negatives in life.
“There’s always the bad that goes with the good, but it’s better to remember the good times even though there are the bad times,” he said.
Lexie Kimminau, Pomona twelfth grade artist, enjoyed the chance to share the experience with her classmates. Her piece was a photographic tribute to her late grandfather.
“I think [the art show is] really cool because you get to see that you’re not alone – there’s someone else who has gone through the same thing that you have gone through – and it’s nice to connect with those people.”
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