Jerilynn Singletary's organic sculpture "Death Blooming" not only showcased her artistic abilities but also conveyed a message about how life can flourish even after death. The sculpture was inspired by Singletary’s future career as a forensic pathologist and featured a cardboard coffin, a clay corpse, and natural elements like moss and grass.
"I made this piece because I wanted to show how after death, we always end up connecting with nature in some way and how some people want to be like trees or something,” said Singletary, a junior at Eastlake High School. "I made this piece to depict how this person wanted to become a garden and show that even when we die, we're still living in different things.”
Singletary was one of 33 students from Americas, Eastlake, Montwood, Pebble Hills and Socorro high schools whose artwork will be exhibited at the El Paso Museum of Art through April 21, 2024.
The 6th annual Socorro ISD Student Art Exhibition offered students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to showcase their artistic talents at the museum for the community. The Socorro Independent School District is the only El Paso school district with a student art show at the museum, said Candace Printz, assistant director of SISD Fine Arts.
Students created original artwork inspired by the museum’s 2024 Border Biennial. They received mentoring from museum staff who offered guidance, critiqued their work and checked on their progress.
Edward Hayes Jr., director of the El Paso Museum of Art, said the art pieces conveyed a lot of feelings and emotions.
“Ese show esta hecho con much feeling,” Hayes said during his remarks at the exhibition’s opening reception on Feb. 24. “There are so many emotions portrayed. It’s really rich, very in-depth, very personal. Thank you for your sincerity, your virtuosity, your work.”
Jonathan Lechuga’s painting portrayed a father attempting to talk with his child during dinner, but the child instead remained glued to their phone. Lechuga, an America’s High School senior, hoped his painting would inspire people to put down their phones and pay attention to each other. He said having his painting displayed at the museum was an amazing experience.
“It feels amazing because I didn't expect my artwork to have such a big effect on people,” said Lechuga, an aspiring electrical engineer who has been painting since he was 10 years old. “People are taking pictures and talking about it. It's honestly an awesome experience.”
Printz said the opportunity for students to showcase their artwork in the museum boosted their confidence. The experience also will help them succeed in their careers, whether as artists or in other fields.
“You’re in a museum that has Vincent van Gogh pieces, that has had Diego Rivera, that has had Frida Kahlo,” Printz told student-artists at the exhibition. “You’re in the same museum that has had those pieces. Think about that. That’s super cool!”
Students whose artwork is being exhibited at the museum include: Grecia Estrada, Ana Sofia Ramirez, Kassandra Bustillos, Emilio Aleman, Alison Romo, Sofia Cedillo, Lindsey Huffman, Jasmine Jerry, Brandon Medrano and Ivy Montelongo from Pebble Hills; Liliana Reza Marquez, Adali Valles, Chise Rios, Rilley Myers, Ariadna Salazar, Jesus Bujanda, Polett Cano, Andrea Maldonado, Marlene Martinez, Julian Rivera, Sarahi Santos-Portillo, Catherine Ceniceros and Eileen Razo from Socorro; Trinity Graves, Destiny Esquivel, Jerilyn Singletary and Penelope Garcia from Eastlake; Jonathan Lechuga, Abigail Cervantes, Caitlyn "Roarey" Flahie and Aria Aubert from Americas; and Evelyn Frias-Alvarez and Ana De La Cruz from Montwood.