WGHS Students Inspired by the Talented Artists

Metro Atlanta is a prime cultural center, ripe with the arts, and Walton County is no exception, with numerous artists calling it their home. WGHS specifically hosts an abundance of musical talents.
by Sabrina Cleland and Haley Hubbard

From April 27 to April 30, the main hall of Walnut Grove High School was transformed into an art gallery, showing off the talent and dedication of its own student artists. Peers and friends around the school shared what they thought of the gorgeous art pieces they saw in their own halls.
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Gabriella Charles (10th) shared that some of the pieces held a deeper emotional meaning for her. "I see backgrounds of pain and suffering in some, which stood out to me.” She expressed how this resonated deeply with her. Amalia Damian (10th) seemed to be proud of the artists she knew and loved. She shared her love for the uniqueness of the art and her appreciation for the deeper meanings. "There were a couple of pieces that had meaning to me—breaking free of stereotypical norms.” She also noted how she respected the time put into each piece and how nostalgia is displayed in many; she was satisfied with the results of the art show.

There were several specific pieces that stood out to students, with some pieces even becoming fan favorites. Camden Lundgren (12th) was drawn to the oil pastel of the lighthouse. “It shows the meaning of calmness, and it gives a bit of nostalgia.” He shared that it reminded him of a place he used to visit. Kamiah Suttles (10th) was more drawn to a piece that featured sign language. “I always admired sign language but could never learn it." One WGHS artist, Felicia Moise (10th), was mentioned by multiple students, specifically for her rainbow piece and a portrait of a girl with her hand over her face. The work of another artist, Miles Brown (11th), left an impression on students. Montana Mckinzie (12th) described the “War” piece as one of the most meaningful works in the show. “It shows him grieving and the emotions that were put into it.”

The use of colors and textures in the artists' work played a big role in how the students viewed the art. Elijah Flores (12th) noted that the first thing to catch his eye was the “vibrancy and colors” of all the pieces. Pointing out a vibrant work of tulips, he shared how he would give this work the name “Tulips in the Valley.” Rachel Palmer (12th) highlighted a different painting: an ocean painting. "If the ocean painting didn't have a name, I would name it 'Deep Sea Diver.'" She enjoyed how the fish depicted in the ocean caught her eye. Her love for the ocean allowed her to appreciate the art a lot more. “I like the ocean, and I can really see the effort they put into it."

As the show came to an end, students offered their kind words to all the aspiring artists at WGHS. Rachel Palmer encouraged them to keep doing what they’re doing, praising their amazing talent. “It takes lots of talent to create this, and you could get really far with it." Montana Mckinzie agreed, respecting the dedication and passion each artist put into their work. “It takes effort to create things like that, and showcasing it was super awesome."

The praise and success the artists received from the art show demonstrate how important art is to all of us here at WGHS. This gallery proved to highlight talent and effort, showing the exceptional young artists bound to create beautiful work.