Orono art club is full of talented artists who are passionate about art. Their unique pieces of artwork are admired in the schools and recognized by the state.

Anybody in Orono High School can join this club from freshmen to seniors. This year 75 people signed up for art club.  Senior Sarah Blackstone is the president, junior Sinclair Myhre is the vice president and art teacher Ms. Hudgins is the adviser.

“It’s a great community to be a part of,” freshman Elora Johnson said. Johnson joined art club this year as a freshman and has been participating in it since the beginning of the year.  

“Don’t be afraid to join,” junior Kayla Kaveney said. “Everyone is very welcoming.” As a sophomore, Kaveney joined spontaneously with a friend and has loved the experience ever since.

Art club puts on a range of events from field trips to Spartan Hour meeting projects.  Some of their work can also be enjoyed throughout the hallways.  So far this year, art club made the homecoming banner, ceramic roses, pumpkin carvings and gingerbread houses for the holiday season along with many others.

Art club also goes on many field trips throughout the year.  This year they have gone to an art festival, a screen printing event and to the apple orchard this fall for a photo field trip.

Art club has a Spartan hour meeting once a month where they will do various activities and work on their ongoing projects.  The projects in art club can range from small ceramic flowers to large banners that require help from all members.

“My favorite part about art club is that you get to know people and connect with people through giant projects where you get to express yourself,” junior vice president Sinclair Myhre said.

These pieces of art that Orono students make can also be recognized on a larger scale. 11 students submitted their artwork to the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) art competition, and Orono had a great outcome receiving 14 awards.

Orono students made the trek to Mankato on April 23 for the MSHSL section event.  Schools from all around Minnesota submitted their artwork and were competing in this art event with Orono students.

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There are 9 art categories that students can submit their artwork to including sculpture, painting and ceramics.  Judges then gave them a rating of either superior or excellent based on a set of criteria decided by the judges.

Four Orono students received superior ratings:  senior Sabrina Le in sculpture, senior Jillian Schulz in two-dimensional mixed media, senior Sarah Blackstone in ceramics and junior Crosbie Francis in drawing.  

Many students also received excellent ratings. Le received excellent ratings in ceramics and crafts, Schulz in photo, senior Greta Lindquist in painting,  junior Sinclair Myhre in photo, junior Maighread Shaunessy in photo, junior Amy Erickson in photo, junior Kayla Kaveney in printmaking, junior Abby Wilfert in drawing and sophomore Lauren Eckoff in sculpture.

Art club welcomes all students, with or without an art background.  It can give you an opportunity to try different forms of art and meet new people with the same interest for art.  “I would recommend joining,” junior Amy Erickson said. “There is something for everyone.”

The Orono art club has been successful throughout the year and is full of talented artists who continue to make one-of-a-kind pieces for the whole student body to enjoy.