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‘Together’: Anne Arundel County seniors’ art on display at Maryland Hall

More than 60 Anne Arundel County high school seniors are celebrating their artistic growth, decision-making abilities, communication skills, willingness to take risks and perseverance in a new exhibit at Maryland Hall.

The exhibit, titled “Belonging,” is on the second floor inside the Earl and Martino galleries. It encompasses various mediums, including paintings, drawings, three-dimensional designs, photography and digital media, showing the true versatility and diversity of the student artists. The art is on display until May 15, just a few days before county graduation ceremonies begin.

“This is the second year we partnered with AACPS to bring the senior art show to Maryland Hall,” said Jackie Coleman, executive director of Maryland Hall. ” We love having it here and hope to continue the partnership.”

All the art is accompanied by a nameplate along with a QR code so audiences can have the art explained by the artists themselves and have a chance to get to know the artists better.

One of the pieces on display is by Isabelle Truman, from Glen Burnie High School. She used acrylic and canvas to create her 16-inch by 12-inch painting titled “Not Me,” which shows a person and their reflection in a mirror, but the subject is covering her face.

“My artwork shows a realistic portrayal of the reference I used, but still shows brush strokes,” she said in her description of her work. “I am proud about how realistic the painting looks to the image reference I used.”

In the Earl gallery, Heidi Tine, from South River High School, used white, low-fire clay and a wax metallic finish to create a 15-inch-long sculpture of an armadillo that looks like an accordion titled “Accord-illo.”

Tine said she was exploring the juxtaposition between natural and mechanical objects as part of a portfolio she was creating for her AP art class.

“I saw a concertina, a small round accordion without piano keys, and I immediately thought of the midsection of an armadillo,” she said when explaining how she arrived at the exhibit idea.

One of the most striking pieces is a 48-inch by 42-inch multicolor canvas painting of a girl eating cotton candy at an Orioles game. It was created by Abigail Hanson from Glen Burnie High School using acrylic paint and it’s titled simply “Go O’s.”

Hanson said she was trying to explore a mark-making technique and color choice to show a happy time through her art.

“I focus on joy through my art because painting is my happy place where I can really be creative and control what I make,” she said.

The exhibit is free to the public and the entire county is invited to check it out, Coleman said.

Coming up next, Maryland Hall will use the Earl Gallery in partnership with Arundel Lodge to show an exhibit called “Connection.” In the Martino Gallery, there will be a show curated by a group called Community 24, which will put together an eponymous d exhibit. In July, the Hall will host a juried show presented by the Maryland Federation of Art.