A Space to Create: Art Club Sets Tone for New School Year

As students snap back into their routines for the upcoming school year, Hastings Senior High’s Art Club is getting busy.

The Hastings Senior High Art Club meets every two weeks on Tuesday afternoons at 3:35 PM in room 107. Run by art teacher Chelby Schlichtman, the club offers a community to students who have an eye for all forms of art.

The Hastings High Art Club welcomes every student regardless of artistic skill or grade. With 10 active members, the club is always looking for new students to join.

Schlichtman has led Art Club for eight consecutive years, making her a longtime presence in the club.

“When I was a student here at Hastings High, the school didn’t have an art club, this year marks eight years of me teaching it,” Schlichtman said.

Art club turns creativity into a group decision.

“During meetings, students usually decide on a prompt that everyone votes on, then they get to create whatever they envision from that prompt,” Schlichtman said.

Previous prompts have included themes such as sea creatures, plants, and music.

Rather than creating artwork during every meeting, members often use the time to discuss and compare pieces they have made.

Members have two weeks to work on their projects before the club introduces a new prompt.

“My favorite part of art club is seeing how everyone expresses their love for art, even if all our art styles are different,” Sophomore Darling Dieken said.

Members explore a variety of artistic mediums, including drawing, painting, and sketching.

Schlichtman explains that Art Club is a great space for artists because it lets students express themselves in a way they can’t always do during the regular school day.

“Art Club is less structured than your usual art class, I’m not telling you what you need to draw,” Schlichtman said.

While art remains the focus of the club, members say the club’s atmosphere is just as important. Junior Jasper De León shares the art club has given him the opportunity to talk with students he normally would not interact with outside of the club.

“I’m not really a talkative person when it comes to new people, but when I’m in art club, I feel I can step outside my box and talk to more people,” De León said.

Members say Schlichtman often brings snacks for the club to enjoy while they discuss and review their artwork.

“I hope at the end of the day students find a new way to look at artwork in Art Club,” Schlichtman said.