Teacher Shoutout / Hooked on Art Festival
On September 26, nonprofit substance abuse treatment center, Frontline Foundations Inc., held the 2015 Hooked on Art Festival. The event was held at Thomas Centennial Park in downtown Chesterton from 9am-4pm. Along with the over 60 chalk artists participating, the festival incorporated homemade food, live music, and a 3D chalk artist.
Chesterton High School Art Club, sponsored by art teacher Allison Nix, had many students participate in the event. This is Nix’s third year sponsoring Art Club and second year participating in Hooked on Art.
“Derek Fraizer, who is the Development Director for Frontline, asked me if I wanted to help with the youth chalk art competition promotions,” Nix said. “I’ve been going to their committee meeting, they usually meet once a month, and just figuring out how to best recruit more high schools and more high schoolers to participate. We are also reaching out to the elementary schools and a lot of people from the community either enjoying or volunteering at the event that weekend.”
At Hooked on Art, chalk art participants can work with a group or individually on a painted surface to create their art.
“The cool thing is [the students] also get to see the professional chalk artists’ work,” Nix said. “They will be working alongside the professional and just naturally picking up tips on how to blend and how to make optical illusions where they are popping out of the concrete. Naturally it inspires students to grow, to see where they could be in the end.”
Nix has been teaching art for five years, four of them at CHS. Ever since fourth grade, when she was inspired by her mom, Nix has wanted to become an art teacher.
“My mom was my [fourth grade] art teacher,” Nix said “and I remember I was so nervous I thought ‘my mom is going to be my teacher and that’s so not cool!’ On the first day, she walked in with full Egyptian garb, with a wig on and everything. She had a boom box on her shoulder that was playing ‘Walk like an Egyptian,’ and I was just mortified. But then everyone was like ‘this is so cool!’ and we learned active art history. I remember thinking in fourth grade that I wanted to have fun at my job like that. So, I decided in fourth grade to become an art teacher.”
Fall Homecoming
The first week of October marked the week of 2015 Fall Homecoming, ‘Fall into Fall.’
The students showed their school spirit by dressing according to the theme of each day. The themes were: Monday- Pajama Day, Tuesday- College Day, Wednesday- Animal Day, Thursday- Dress up Day, and Friday- Maroon and Gold Day. Wednesday, September 30, students and community members could participate in the annual playhouse painting event to raise funds for charity.
However, a new addition to this year’s playhouse painting event was the development of this event into a block party. Students, families and the community could help paint the community house while enjoying food and activities. Additionally everyone could watch selected students perform on the newly added Steinway grand piano in the auditorium.
“The students are the ones that really put [the block party] together,” assistant principal Robert Blumenthal said. “Taylor Rodriguez, student government president, Mark Wilcox, vice president of event planning and the entire executive board worked very hard to make it all happen.”
On Friday, October 2, the Chesterton Trojans played Lake Central for Chesterton’s homecoming football game. This was following the Homecoming parade that was located in downtown Chesterton.
“I think that the game and the dance we both very successful,” Blumenthal said. “We won the game and I've heard many positive comments about the dance from students.”
The homecoming dance was held on Saturday, October 3, at 8 pm in the cafeteria.
Fall Play
On October 30, 31, and November 1, the fall play, “Witness for the Prosecution,” will be held in the auditorium. For the October 30 and 31 showings, the play will start at 7 pm and for the November 1 performance, 2 pm. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for students and seniors.
The school play is based on the short story and play, “The Witness for the Prosecution” by English crime and mystery writer, Agatha Christie. The storyline of the play according to the play director/director of security and safety Stephen Rohe is “Young Leonard Vole stands accused of befriending then murdering a wealthy widow. His only alibi is his wife, or is she his wife? Will the jury believe her?”
Since 1990, Rohe has been part of over 80 productions at Northwest Community Theater.
“I first got involved in theater in 1971 at BSU,” Rohe said. “I've been active in Northwest Indiana Community Theater since 1990 being involved in over 80 productions. This is my 11th or 12th show directing. [Additionally I] was the Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theater Best Director in 2010 for "The Crucible" at 4th Street Theater. Currently, I am 2015 Best Director nominee for "Waiting for Godot" at 4th Street Theater and Best Principal Actor for "Squabbles" at Hammond Community Theater.”
Currently, the play crew is working on the formation of the set and the cast members are working on their stage movement.
“The cast is terrific and working hard,” said Rohe. “I'm impressed with work online memorization and characterization.”
Student Shoutout- Jazmine Figueroa
Stage manager for the fall play will be senior Jazmine Figueroa. She has been a stage manager or an assistant stage manager since her sophomore year.
“My job is mainly to organize backstage and make sure everything goes smoothly,” Figueroa said.
Figueroa wanted to be the stage manager for the school plays because she finds being part of theater an enjoyable experience. Additionally she feels that being part of theater gives her a sense of accomplishment. Her connection to theater and the people involved gives her a sense that she belongs to what she considers “just a really big family.”
One of the aspects of the job of stage managing Figueroa enjoys is helping her fellow backstage members and actors learn more about the art of theater.
“My favorite part of being a stage manager is teaching the others how to do something,” Figueroa said.