Art from South Putnam on display in Terre Haute

In January, several students from South Putnam High School entered their artwork into the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition at the Swope Art Museum in Terre Haute. Four of those students will be featured in the show, which is running through May 15. Danielle Welsh, Amber Thompson, Alex Giannechini and Brice Johnson all have pieces on display.

Welsh is the daughter of Lisa and Michael Welsh. She lives in Greencastle and is a senior at South Putnam. Welsh entered three pieces into the Swope Museum Art show and two of them made the cut. "Fragile Reflections" is a colored pencil drawing of a still-life that Welsh built. The still-life contained silver objects such as as Christmas bulb and a mirror with a checkered background. Welsh was slightly disappointed with this piece's results in the show.

"I kind of expected for this drawing to win something because I won first prize in the colored pencil last year. I was a little disappointed that it did not win anything."

Welsh is serving one day per week of her senior internship in her school's art room. She helps out the art teacher Mrs. Weber by building canvases and working on paintings to hang in the school's office. Though Welsh's future plans include attending IUPUI and majoring in dental hygiene, she also sees art as a possible career.

"I see dental hygiene as my career right now, but I can definitely see art as a side option."

Also a senior at SPHS, Thompson entered a watercolor titled "Eggplants." Thompson graduated early from South Putnam in November. She plans to attend University of Indianapolis next fall and major in art. She was awarded an art scholarship from U of I as a result of a presentation she made using a portfolio of her artwork. Most of the work in this portfolio was completed in her art classes at school.

A ceramic sculpture titled "Vacant Mind: No Space for Thought" is in the Swope Museum bearing Johnson's name. Johnson is a junior and resides in Cloverdale with his parents Robin and Max Johnson. Cross country, swimming, track, and band are Johnson's other extracurricular activities.

Giannechini is another junior artist that will be featured in the exhibition. She is the daughter of Whitney and Daniel Giannechini, Cloverdale. In addition to art, she participates in softball and swimming at her school. She plans to pursue a degree in art history after she graduates high school.

The piece Giannechini entered is a drawing of her favorite magenta shoes with black and white background. It is titled "Dancing Chucks". She used colored pencil, watercolor and relief print. She completed the project as a part of an assignment to do a self portrait.

"Mrs. Weber took pictures of my legs with my Chuck Taylor's on for my self-portrait. My left foot is over my right one, so it looks kind of like I am dancing,"the artist said.

An interesting technique was used to complete this portrait of Giannechini's legs and feet.

"To finish off the drawing, I dipped my shoes in ink and danced all over the paper," she said.

Though Giannechini did not express high expectations for her project, "Dancing Chucks" earned an impressing second place award at the art show out of about 75 entries in its category.

The Swope Museum is located on Seventh Street one block south of Wabash Avenue in Terre Haute.