Tag Archives: art

Spring Arts Show presents feast for eyes and ears

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Photo: Patterson Press

By Akira Sumpter

Patterson High School showcased art in all forms at its annual Spring concert and arts show on May 8, 2026.

When students, staff, and family members first entered the art show, the first thing they saw was an impressive gallery of visual art made by Patterson students. Works of art were displayed on easels and sprawled upright across the cafeteria floor. No two pieces were alike. The walls nearest to the auditorium doors were covered in flat two-dimensional art and every piece had a name assigned to it to credit the artist and their teacher.

Upon entering the auditorium where another type of art was showcased, the audience was treated to live vocals from our very own choir singing “Siyahamba” in perfect harmony with the African percussion coming from Ira Hinton and Jihaad Everett. Then the curtains closed and opened again to reveal our powerful dance team dancing in tradition and faith, introduced by the two hosts of the evening, Jeremy Jones and Romeo Merritt. After this, the choir performed again, but this time a cappella–no drums, no clapping, just pure voice led by their director, Mr. Fowler.

Next there was a quick live performance of guitar blues, a dance, drinks, and a good time, similar to a scene in the movie “Sinners”, where the main character sang and played his guitar at a juke joint for the first time. The main character had an eerily similar voice to the movie actor. The whole thing felt like you were up there, dancing and singing with the cast.

Later on in the party, musicians came on stage and started to play some jazzy blues. They were dressed spiffy from head to toe and definitely stole the show as they played old New Orleans style jazz, giving the audience a warm feel of nostalgia. The group of musicians on stage performing had a strong tuba player, a determined trumpeter, a smooth tenor sax, and a sophisticated alto and yet they each sounded like two players instead of one. Some members left the party that was on stage and walked into the auditorium aisles while the rest of the actors stayed put on stage.

Soon after intermission, our PHS marching band performed a few favorite songs from their set list, such as “Big Ballin’”, “Down for My Brothers”, “Tatted Up”, “Just Got Paid”, and many other bangers. Everyone on stage had pure energy. Every other song had cool dance moves, chants and amazing sound as senior band members performed their last band performance at the high school level, directed by the amazing Ms. Williams. Our band has rebuilt stronger yet again this year with mostly eager newcomers who only just  joined the band this year, but that obviously did not stop them from cranking out loud and clear tunes.

One of the last few performances was a tribute to Michael Jackson. There was a reenactment of his older music video when he was a part of the “Jackson Five”. There was also African dance and drums, which got the crown excited and moving. This was definitely a night to remember, and the event’s organizers are confident that next year’s show will be even better.

Exploring identity, emotion, and imagination in AP Art sustained investigation

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Photo: Akira Sumpter

By Saniyah Courtney

At Patterson High School, AP Art students led by Ms. Holter developed sustained investigations that explore personal details, creative ideas, and emotional expression through a variety of media and techniques. Each artist builds a portfolio of work that fits their chosen theme of choice while experimenting with different materials such as clay, painting, markers, and many other mediums to communicate meaning.

Jacoiya Roscoe’s sustained investigation in AP Art centers around surrealism, which is her second portfolio. She explores distorted realities and gives them a deeper meaning. She works with paint, markers, charcoal, and even colored pencils. One of her key artworks focuses on paranoia, showing how fear can alter perception and create a sense of mental unease.

Emily Gasca-Palma’s sustained investigation focuses on femininity, examining how identity and womanhood can be represented through art. She uses painting and sketches to explore emotions that connect to her theme. One of her artworks is a painting of a uterus shaped with flowers. She creates a highlight of balance and strength, which shows femininity as layered, personal, and shaped by experience.

Kaiya Patterson’s sustained investigation explores surrealism, horror, and fear, creating bizarre, unsettling visual narratives inspired by psychological tension and imagination. Working mainly in clay, she builds realistic sculptural forms while adding unexpected details to her artwork. Her artwork focuses on the contrast between realism and distortion, using horror-inspired themes to evoke emotion and challenge perception. This is also Kaiya’s second year of doing AP art. Even after all the challenges, she has managed to have extra work for her portfolio and is ready to get her life back after she graduates.

Kevin Valencia-Arzola’s sustained investigation focuses on Asian culture, drawing inspiration from tradition, identity, and telling a story without words. He works with both painting and ceramics, exploring cultural themes through different materials. One of his artworks involved breaking a plate that he had made of clay and fixing it with gold. This artwork represents Japanese culture by showing how broken items are fixed with gold in their culture.

Students create unique artwork in ceramics class

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By Saniyah Courtney

In Ms. Holter’s ceramics class at Patterson High School, students are creating unique works of art with clay while building technical skills and getting hands-on experience with clay. The class provides foundational techniques and explores individual creativity, making it very beginner-friendly.

At the start of the course, students focused on basic skills that every ceramic artist needs to know, such as different types of clay, how to wedge the clay (which is very important) and facts about the kiln. 

As the class moved forward, students began applying these skills through several projects. One of the projects was a kiln God, imaginative sculptures from a tradition to “watch over” clay pieces while they fire in the kiln. This project encouraged creativity and allowed students to experiment freely with design and symbolism. Another project that the students worked on was pinch pots, which helped them create new shapes to form an egg with designs.

Students used the egg project as an opportunity to express unique ideas. For example, student Aaliyah Ward created a mermaid egg decorated with stars and a tail.

Another project was a snowman. Students practiced how to roll the clay, slip and score, and avoid many risks of it bursting in the kiln. Student Myra Fortune created a snowman with a detachable head and an afro to represent her creativity.

The current projects that students are working on are coil vases, each attaching the coils on top of each other to make a One-foot-tall vase.

Some students in ceramics are prepping for AP Art, making artworks to connect to their sustained investigation out of clay. A sustained investigation is a key part of AP Art where students explore a central idea or theme through artworks over time. 

While some students are focused on creating sculptures for their AP, the class remains a fun and supportive environment for students who are not focused on going to AP art. Many of the students simply enjoy the process of creating sculptures for daily use and even decoration, making the ceramic class fun for everyone.

Painting for a purpose: teachers and staff create moon-themed artwork

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Photo: Ms. Marchewka

By Saniyah Courtney

Patterson High School teachers and staff gathered together in a classroom on February 19th to enjoy an evening of painting under the guidance of experienced art teachers, Ms. Marchewka and Ms. Holter. The painting session, which cost $30 to attend, was organized as a fundraiser to support education at Patterson.

During the event, teachers and staff painted a moon-themed piece of artwork. Teachers showed their support by not only attending but also actively participating in the painting process. The event was filled with laughter, drinks, and different types of food.

Teachers and several staff members brought their children to join the event, making it a welcoming, family-friendly experience. While some children preferred to stay with their parents to paint, others joined Ms. Holter in another art room, drawing animals, painting, and creating ceramics, allowing them to be a part of the event in their own way.

Ms. Marchewka guided the session, helping attendees through the painting process and also sharing ideas. Even those with little to no painting experience were able to follow along and enjoy themselves, creating a piece of art they were proud of.

The event successfully combined art and community, allowing staff to express themselves creatively while also contributing to a good cause. The money raised will go towards supporting Patterson’s “Grant A Wish” committee in getting supplies for students and funding future activities.

New art club to raise money for charity

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Photo: Ms. Marchewka

by Zander Hatziegorgalis 

A new art club at Patterson is making art for charity.

“There are a lot of students who like art”, said Ms. Marchewka, one of the art teachers at the school.

She would like to use that interest in art to do something positive for the community. She decided to start a new club this new school year for students to create their own individual art and to sell it to raise money for charitable organizations.

Ms. Marchewka has participated in art for charity projects outside of Patterson, so she wanted to bring her experiences to our school this year. Ms. Marchewka loved leading these clubs, so she brought the concept to Patterson so other students can experience it as well.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity to bring that experience to Patterson.”, said Ms. Marchewka.

Ms. Marchewka sent out a Google Form to staff members so they can order commissions of custom artwork. Students will receive service learning hours for their work.

“Currently we are working on a variety of posters and signs for folks.”

Any students who are not working on a commission are making paintings to sell at the Winter Concert and the Spring Arts festival. These paintings will be available for anyone to purchase.

Ms. Marchewka will let the students decide what they want to do with the money and which charities they want it to go to.

“The students will actually decide that,” she explained. 

Ms. Marchewka doesn’t know what the charities will spend the money on, because it’s their choice.

“It depends on the charity itself.”, she stated.

After students create original works of art, they will sell their artwork and Ms. Marchewka will be donating that money to any charity that the students in the club choose.

The Art for Charity club meets during Advisory. Currently Ms. Marchewka does not plan to add more students to the club.

“However, if I hear student interest in that, I would consider it for sure.”

New school year brings excitement and achievements

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The Patterson band gets ready to perform at Back to School Night (Photo: Jamira Ellison)

by Mirian Maurizaca

We’re back to school! August 26 was the first day for students at Patterson High School. There are many events being planned to make this school year fun and memorable. There have also been achievements made already. 

Our attendance has increased since last year. “I am proud of our attendance rate,” said Principal Myrick.

“Attendance rate went up to 82%. Last year we had a 69% rate of attendance. Also Patterson High School was in the top 10 of high schools for growth and achievements.” 

Principal Myrick wants to add on to Patterson’s achievements from last school year.

“This year really focuses on academic achievement,” stated Principal Myrick. 

There are also new programs at Patterson High School. There is a program for families that want to learn English or Spanish that will happen after school. For the first semester there is only one class but next semester there will be two classes. Additionally, Patterson High also has dance class and an NGLA program for students to become certified interpreters. 

Principal Myrick has many ideas for this school year.

“I’m excited for this school year,” explained Principal Myrick.

One event from last year that will be returning is 405 Day. It will be a community event to invite family and friends to. There are many other events being planned as well, from Spirit Week to cultural celebrations, concerts, plays, and much more.

This school year promises to be a memorable year for all students. This year will bring us new achievements, more goals, and fun activities.

Patterson hosts Black History Night show

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by Kylayah Davis

Patterson High school hosted a Black History Night show on Wednesday February 28th. The event was organized by Mr. Fowler with performances from Patterson’s newly established Performing Arts Academy. 

In total, the Performing Arts Academy put on three shows in honor of Black History Month: two during the day on Tuesday, February 27th during 2nd and 4th period for students who made Honor Roll and Principal’s List, and then another event on Wednesday evening for families at 6:00 PM. The hosts would like to extend a thank you to all those who came out to support our young creatives and their hard work during the stormy weather on Wednesday night. 

The show opened with the Black national anthem (“Lift Every Voice and Sing”), followed by introductions and a welcome message by the man who produced this great show, choir director Mr. Fowler.

After this opening, a song called Siyahamba was performed by the choir called while student performers danced to the music. This dance was the debut of Patterson’s newly established dance program under the direction of Mr. Kwame and our modeling troupe under Coach Z. After this, the band went on to play “Wade in The Water”, a negro spiritual code song with solos by Korey Spruill and Christian Yates. The Show was split into four sections representing four key elements of Black culture: style, movement, gestures of dismissal, and music.

The style portion hosted by 10th grade student Araya Brinkley featured Patterson’s newly formed modeling troupe. The troupe performed a dance to the song “They Don’t Really Care About Us” by Michael Jackson and showcased African American fashions from multiple decades. 

The show also featured the poems, “I too am America” By Langston Hughes, performed by Micah Mcdonald and Caleb Johnson, and “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou performed by Dinea Griffin, Octavia Caldwell, Tynazia Burgess, Tammie Gordon, Syniah Rawlings, and Demi Hines.

Christina Johnson showed her art which featured representations of Black girls. Cristina created four works of art for this collection:

  • Buttons for hair – Uses actual buttons to represent the kinky coils of Black hair 
  • Perm at home – Shows a Black girl getting a perm at home to fit Western beauty standards
  • Solitude – Showcases the loneliness of Black girls in ballet 
  • Damage – a representation of the words Black girls have heard or experienced because of their natural hair

The musical portion of the show was a fan favorite and was hosted by Mr. Fowler. This section showcased quick lip sync performances by students representing different genres of music, including R & B, HipHop, and Rap, with songs by The Temptations, Mary J. Blige, New Edition, Tupac, and Biggie.

“I’m Goin’ Down” was performed by Tynazia Burgess, “Hit ’Em Up” was performed by Sincere Bartfield, “Juicy” was performed by Charles Goodman, “Billie Jean” was performed by Caleb Williams, and “My Girl” was performed by Zion Woods, Devon Brown, Tyshawn, Aaron Washington and La’ron Howard.

To conclude the night, the choir sang the song “Glory”, featuring the band, with instrumental solos by Kylayah Davis and Winner Mbenga and vocal solos by Jeanette Giles, Octavia Caldwell and Sincere Bartfield. “Glory” was made for the movie Selma which depicted the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, where African Americans and their allies marched for voting rights and an end to discrimination. 

The show was so well received that students wished for another one. Many students hope that we can make this an annual tradition with even better performances in the years to come. Once again, the organizers of this event would like to extend a thank you to all who helped with the production of the show. Finally, a special “thank you” to everyone who came out to support the show, and please come out to support more events from our Performing Arts Academy.