Visitors to Westfield Montgomery Mall can now check out a colorful student art installation created by Springbrook High School’s Foundations of Art and Culture classes.
The display is located on the mall’s lower level near an entrance by the former Sears space and features artwork inspired by the colorful patterns of painter Philip Taaffe.
According to the display, Foundations of Art and Culture is an introductory art class for students in grades 9-12. Students experiment with a wide variety of materials and subjects, with some projects focusing on observation and realism while others explore abstract concepts and emotion.
For this installation, students first created their own personal logos representing their interests and cultures. Those designs were then turned into reusable stencils, allowing students to layer objects, words, and repeating design elements throughout their paintings.
Each finished piece contains at least four layers of color and imagery. Students focused on creating all-over patterns, exploring color relationships, and reversing foreground and background elements. The works were designed to be exhibited together as a cohesive collection that blends from one painting to the next.
The display credits art instructors Chas Foster and Brooke Petrucci, along with Springbrook High School Principal Stephanie Valentine, and thanks Westfield Montgomery Mall for providing the space to make the large-scale installation possible.
