Student Work Spotlight: Classical Perspectives Studio

The Fine & Performing Arts pathways have so much to offer - and part of that includes a collaboration with the Classical Academy in a course called Classical Perspectives Studio. This is an interdisciplinary, aesthetics based course that challenges students to engage in the artistic process in a variety of art forms. The first unit in this course was in semiotics, which is the study of signs & symbols and their interpretation. Students first learned the different types of signs and the unique relationship between a signifier (a sign) and a signified (concept, person, or idea). Using this framework, they designed a series of prints and carved them out of linoleum block to create a semiotic series. You can view these on display in the upper auditorium lobby or check out some of their photos below.

Los itinerarios de Bellas Artes y Artes Escénicas tienen mucho que ofrecer, y parte de eso incluye una colaboración con Classical Academy en un curso llamado Classical Perspectives Studio. Este es un curso interdisciplinario basado en la estética que desafía a los estudiantes a participar en el proceso artístico en una variedad de formas de arte. La primera unidad de este curso fue en semiótica, que es el estudio de signos y símbolos y su interpretación. Los estudiantes aprendieron primero los diferentes tipos de signos y la relación única entre un significante (un signo) y un significado (concepto, persona o idea). Usando este marco, diseñaron una serie de impresiones y las tallaron en bloques de linóleo para crear una serie semiótica. Puede verlos en exhibición en el vestíbulo del auditorio superior o ver algunas de sus fotos a continuación.

Artist Spotlight: Alexis Namulinda, Class of 2024

"For my symbol, I chose to make something which turned out to look like a tree branch with blooming flowers on top and budding ones on the bottom, which symbolizes the changes I’ve gone through and am currently going through. From a different angle, the carving also resembled a deer, which could also be, according to Buddhism, symbolic of harmony and peace. Based upon the original intended result, this carving can be considered a symbol because the actual art itself is arbitrary, with no direct connection to me as a person; the signified meaning has to be learned in order for it to make sense. For my index, I chose a bottle of ranch. In middle school, I wouldn’t eat anything if it didn’t have ranch on it. My obsession (which was admittedly comparable to an addiction) was one of my main identifying factors. I got in trouble for trying to steal ranch from the cafeteria, and I was gifted a bottle of ranch for Christmas. Since I was associated with ranch because of my constant consumption of it, it can be considered an index of mine."

Artist Spotlight: Hannah Minnis, Class of 2024

"The icon I created is an image of my face from my nose to my eyes, this exemplifies an icon because it shows a physical resemblance of me, a photograph. The index is a footprint I have left behind, this exemplifies an index because it shows evidence of me, my footprint. The symbol I created is a seal, this exemplifies a symbol because the representation of me must be learned. I designed a seal specifically because it’s my spirit animal, and it symbolizes creativity and hard work to reach “impossible” goals."

Artist Spotlight: Kiara Ventura, Class of 2024

"Each print I made exemplifies the definition of an icon, an index, and a symbol. My first print, the one made to be an icon, was created as an imitation of an actual picture of me, so it did physically resemble me as an icon should. My second print, the one meant to be an index, was of a hoodie. I decided on a hoodie because I am always wearing a hoodie, so naturally, it has a direct connection to me and would probably make people think of me (the ones that know me that is). My last print, the one meant to be a symbol, was a four-leaf clover and has no physical or direct connection to me. My last name ‘Ventura’ means ‘good fortune,’ and since four-leaf clovers mean the same thing, I used it as a symbol signifying me."