Talented students from Wheaton Warrenville South High School have an opportunity to display their artistic creations and designs at the art show from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 21, in the school’s common area. Traditionally, visitors view sketches, ceramic pieces, jewelry, paintings, photography and three-dimensional models from the Architectural Design students.

At the April Tiger PAWS meeting, several students from the National Art Honor Society presented a glimpse and brief explanation of the art projects they are working on individually and in groups to be completed in time for the spring show.

Alisha Gryniewicz, a senior from Wheaton, and Erica Fenn, a junior, are working on a watercolor sketch of various women in sports as a tribute to female athletes.

“We feel very grateful to have a school that has so many opportunities for women and wish to recognize this,” Gryniewicz said. The girls are working together, first sketching figures on watercolor paper, applying watercolors and mounting the project on poster board.

Brittany Williams, Cindy Barto and Emily Coughlin are demonstrating the diversity that exists in the District 200 community, focusing on African American, Asian, Caucasian and Hispanic heritages to create a  multi-media piece. Using pencil sketching, color acrylic paint, and fabric, the girls will combine media to create a work on canvas that represents the diversity they see.

The National Art Honor Society accepts students who are talented in the visual arts and possess the attributes for good role models.

“We follow the NAHS national guidelines for member selections and each fall review student portfolios and choose students who not only have talent but who could be a positive role model in the art classes and around school,” WWSHS art instructor Debbie Ebetsch said. “We also look for work ethic and hopefully they will want to major or minor in arts in college.”

Students in NAHS join 29,000 other distinguished art students who must achieve a high grade-point average and show high moral character in all achievements. Students from WWSHS meet every Monday to focus on continuing art projects and community involvement.

After the art show, the projects completed by the NAHS students will be given to the school to be viewed by everyone in the new display cases purchased by the Tiger PAWS organization.

Art shows started long ago when Wheaton Warrenville South was just Wheaton Central, according to Ebetsch. The only change is now the school features two shows per year instead of one previously. All grade levels from 9th through 12th participate in the show. Teachers bestow 20 awards per category and special art distinctions are the Principal and Superintendent Awards.

Wheaton Warrenville South High School is located at 1920 S. Wiesbrook Road, Wheaton.