For the eighth consecutive year, the SISD Student Art Exhibition at the El Paso Museum of Art (EPMA) recognized young artists across the Socorro Independent School District, highlighting their talent and creativity in the visual arts.
This year, for the first time, 49 students from Americas, Eastlake, El Dorado, Montwood, Pebble Hills and Socorro high schools were selected by the museum’s directors to showcase their artwork during March and April. The exhibition, titled “SISD: Bold Beginnings,” featured a variety of styles, including vivid paintings, intricate sculptures and 3D art inspired by the museum's collection.
“What has changed from previous years is that they now have to apply to get in,” said Candace Printz, assistant director of SISD Fine Arts. “So, these kids have been selected based on their portfolio. Because the program grew so much, we had to make it more refined.”
Isabella Figueroa, a senior at El Dorado High School, was excited that her painting, “Who Are We Fooling?” was chosen to be displayed at the museum this year. This was the second time she had shown her artwork at the museum.
“It feels really special and really important in, you know, who I am and who I'm growing up to be. And it feels even more important this year since there was so much of an abundance of submissions that they had to choose who was going to be at the museum,” Figueroa said.
She said her painting, a self-portrait of herself removing her makeup, allowed her to reveal her true self on canvas.
“The best feeling of painting is that you get to choose which parts of your life - your struggles, your ups, your downs - to represent, because you're putting yourself, your childhood, and your future, onto canvas, onto paper, and you're getting to show other people who you are in your mind without having to speak and directly tell them,” Figueroa added.
The collaboration between SISD and the EPMA offers students mentorship from EPMA staff and professional exhibition experience. Printz said that students have the opportunity to share the art space with renowned artists such as Frida Kahlo and Vincent van Gogh.
“There are artists that never, ever in their whole lives get to be displayed at a museum. So, this is an honor. I mean, they have thousands of people come through here daily. So not only do the kids get exposure, but it's confidence-building,” Printz said.
Visitors wore classic red and blue 3D glasses to view the layers in Michael Hernandez's 3D painting self-portrait titled "Unwanted Thoughts.” This was the second time that the Pebble Hills High School senior had the opportunity to display his artwork at the museum.
“It’s very exciting, and well, it’s not something many artists can say or put their artwork in a museum, especially at my age. So, I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Hernandez said.