Summerville’s art club encourages students to join and participate and show off their artistic abilities. The club meets on B Day Tuesdays.

During the 2019-2020 school year, Ms. Castle formed the Art Club. She shared how the Art Club has been benefited by students’ contributions. She explained that for the past four years the club has been stable, thanking the students for taking the reins on things. 

“It was really steered by students who wanted to see it ramp up again because it has started to fizzle up in the past,” stated Ms. Castle 

As the Art Club plans for this year, they are preparing for a lot of fundraising. Not only does money need to be raised to pay for expenses for art supplies, but Art Club also plans on taking a trip to see an art museum later in the year. 

“There is an annual field trip that is paired up with Mr. Patey and his AP European class. We like to go see some art at the museum. This year we are going to go to the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento,” stated Ms. Castle.   

She also explained how she plans on doing an additional field trip to San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) later on in the spring. 

“We help support the art program, in general, because of the need per year for things that are consumed. For example, the art supplies in the room.”

The President of the Art Club, junior Natalie Harris, explained her experience with the club. She has been in the Art Club since freshman year, totaling three years of Art Club experience.

Harris described her fondest memory with the Art Club, painting the mural on the art building during her freshman year. 

“During freshman year, Art Club made the mural which is now on the side of the building, which was a lot of work but it was really fun because it was super collaborative,” said Harris. 

Ms. Castle shared that funds such as those for murals like the one that Harris painted are also often raised by the Art Club for the benefit of the school. 

“We also fundraise for permanent installations for the school, like the mural.”

She also explained why the art classes and Art Club rely on donations for things such as supplies. 

 “There are more advanced art students this year than any past year, also with inflation, art supplies are getting more expensive and the budget hasn’t been [increased],” explained Ms. Castle.

She described one way the art department raises funds to purchase more materials. 

“There is going to be a buyer’s choice. Mrs. Castle set up so we can purchase art supplies.”

Harris also explained how there are going to be fundraisers coming up for the holiday season, such as the sale of artwork coming to campus. In the past, Art Club has set up temporary “pop-up” shops around the holiday seasons. 

Ms. Castle shared what some of the items that could be for purchase in the art market may be. 

“There is also going to be an art market which we are very excited about, for most of December, during lunch. They are great for gifts during the holiday seasons. Art Club also sells art that’s being produced, like prints, for an affordable price.”

For the club, they are also going to be selling custom art works so that students can get the experience of commissions with a client. 

If you are interested in joining the Art Club, make sure to visit Mrs. Castle for more information; there are meetings every other week on Tuesdays during B-Day Flex.