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‘Sights and sounds of art’: Mt. Lebanon hosts annual art show

By Katherine Mansfield staff Writer masfield@observer-Reporter.Com 2 min read
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Photos: Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

Senior Marina Kontos shares her AP artworks with friends at the annual Mt. Lebanon High School show on March 31. Kontos plans to pursue a degree in journalism, with a minor in art and fashion.

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Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

The Queen of Hearts competes with Alice in Wonderland in a multimedia art installation at the Mt. Lebanon High School Annual Art Show March 31. Sophomores Hadly Webb, left, and Kamrynn Smith, Alice, enjoyed greeting guests on the show’s first level.

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Photos: Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

Students pass Aunomitra Mandel on the piano as she fills the second-floor landing with sweet sound. Mandel and peer pianist Henry Ellwein’s music provided the soundtrack to both the landing and the first floor’s interactive Wonderland exhibit at the annual Mt. Lebanon High School art show.

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Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

Lily Connell spent senior year exploring how her family history looks through a modern lens, and creating artworks around that theme. Here, Connell stands proudly beside her acrylic paint, oil pastel, print and fiber works at the Mt. Lebanon High School Annual Art Show.

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Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

Ceramic works by Mt. Lebanon High School 3D and Honors 3D art students grace a festive table set for tea in the multimedia Wonderland art installation. The Wonderland exhibit, featuring sculpture, lighting, the Queen of Hearts and Alice, was one of three exhibits showcasing Mt. Lebanon High School art during the annual art show March 31.

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Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

Mt. Lebanon High School art students added their own spin to miniaturized classic artworks. The mini classics were displayed on the third floor during the annual high school art show March 31.

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Katherine Mansfield/Observer-Reporter

Guests admire the Wonderland interactive multimedia exhibit at the Mt. Lebanon High School Annual Art Show March 31. The first- floor exhibition included a table set for tea with student-made ceramics, paintings, sculptures and a game of croquet with the Queen of Hearts, Hadly Webb, bottom left, and Alice, Kamrynn Smith, not pictured.

Live piano music wafted from the second-floor landing of Mt. Lebanon High School, down to the first floor, setting the soundtrack for an interactive multimedia art installation where Alice and the Queen of Hearts invited visitors to play croquet beneath a sky of white lace umbrellas March 31 during the high school’s annual art show.

“In (Welcome to Wonderland), the idea is that everything is wondrous and ethereal and nostalgic,” said Jennifer Rodriguez, chair of the Mt. Lebanon Fine Arts Department, high school visual arts teacher and art club sponsor. “When you come up (to the third floor), we’ve got over 100 works of art from 30 AP artists. There’s more variety this year, I think, than in any other year. Each student’s voice is really apparent.”

Voices were heard, too, as guests interacted with artists, questioning their inspirations, wondering at their processes and admiring their collections.

“We just came to support it and kind of get her more interested in the arts program, show her what there is to look forward to in middle and high school,” said Summer Owsley, who attended the art show with her daughter, Savannah Owsley.

The two browsed paintings, drawings and miniature masterpieces by high school artists of all levels, including paintings by senior Marina Kontos, who paired each of this year’s works with a piece created last year.

“I was focusing on the darker parts of life. I, myself, became more carefree and lighthearted; I switched focus. Last year, I did darker, muted colors. This year I had to really completely switch that,” she said.

Lily Connell, a senior who plans to study art and art history at either the College of Charleston or the University of Michigan, also pushed herself to grow this year. Connell explored her family history through a modern lens and tried new mediums, all on display March 31.

“I was like, I want to quilt,” smiled Connell. “This year, I really did a lot of experimenting.”

Those who attended the one-evening art show were treated to everything from ink on paper to acrylic on canvas, from traditional still life to experimental portraiture and more.

“On a rainy night, I feel very lucky to have people coming out,” said Rodriguez. “Everybody can enjoy the sites and sounds and art.”

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