Senior Norma Perea discusses her art pieces during Artist Talk on Tuesday, Jan. 24 (photo by Gabie Canales).

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, during Artist Talk, a collaborative effort spearheaded by art teacher Lorena Williams for her advanced art students, featured the works of senior Norma Perea.  Perea displayed various parts of her portfolio in the display case in the library where a handful of teachers, students, peers and family members joined for discussion.  The crowd on hand was asked to join the other attendees for punch and cookies after the presentation.  Perea, who’s been working on the ten display pieces during the first semester, was ready to stand in front of the waiting audience.

“I was really proud of my work and that Ms. Williams felt my pieces were good enough to be showcased in front of everybody,” said Perea. “It was difficult deciding what pieces to showcase, but ultimately I felt that even my least successful pieces showed the progress I have made this year.”

In addition to listening to Perea’s presentation, teachers and students asked questions in regard to what drove her to create certain pieces as well as commented and complimented her on her work.

“I like how in more than a couple of your pieces, you add a type of third dimension,” commented physics teacher Jonas Williamson. ” Do you do it on purpose?”

Artist talks, which started in September,  are required for all advanced art students in order for them to become comfortable with expressing themselves to a broader audience.

“The reason I have the students do artist talks is because I want them to get the experience of speaking about their work to people other than their art teacher or classmates,” said art teacher Lorena Williams. “It’s a wonderful experience for the audience and the students themselves.”