By Norah Jewett ’25
The Montserrat Congressional Art Show is a unique chance for high school students from around the Essex District to submit their art for a chance to win awards for their hard work. It is open to students in grades ten through twelve, whether they attend private or public schools.
Two students from Beverly High submitted their art to this contest: sophomores Sophia Gallo, who won best of the school, and Katie Jutras, who was awarded an honorable mention. Gallo’s piece depicted skill with a mask and a party hat. “For the new year,” she explained. “To show another year going by.” Likewise, Jutras painted a blue-hued piece of someone curled up in what was described as a fetal position, titled “The Last Aura of Hope”. Jutras expressed the fact that while they do not have a lot of time to do art outside of school due to schoolwork, this gave them an excuse to paint something. Additionally, they mention how since they cannot directly copy a reference, they need to get creative with artistic liberties, sometimes even using themselves as references.
Opportunities such as these are made possible through National Art Honor Society–better known as NAHS–and its advisor, Ms. Cicogna. Jutras specified, “Our advisor puts a lot of opportunities for us–particularly for juniors and seniors–on Google Classroom, so I try to take advantage of that.” Outside shows such as the Montserrat Congressional Art Show, NAHS plans events such as the Holiday Hoopla and Bob Ross Night, as well as tackling projects around the school, as shown by their plans to paint a mural on the lacrosse wall standing on BHS’s campus. Gallo explains that these opportunities are “chances for community service hours through art activities.” That being said, both of these students wonderfully demonstrated their artistic abilities through this show and NAHS, and both show willingness to compete once more next year.
