High School Artwork Featured in Des Moines Show

Four students from Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School recently received the news that their artwork was selected for the annual youth art show at Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines.

The following students were selected:

• Ruby Zamoranom — photos of a ceramic bowl she created, depicting symbols from the movie Coraline, titled “Don't Go Through the Little Door"

• Thalia Coloriano — a mixed media piece of a tiger, using oil pastels, acrylic painted paper, and stitching titled "Stitch Yourself Together"

• Noe Flores — a colored pencil piece, titled “Possessions of My Life"

• Peyton Nicholson — a series of six black and white photos, titled “What the Wind Blows"

Hundreds of pieces were submitted for consideration this year, and these students were among the 100 that were selected for the show.

Their artwork is on display in the lower level corridor by Von Maur and H&M, and the show will conclude on March 28 with a short ceremony.

Sophmore Peyton Nicholson told the Chronicle that she felt honored and that it was great to be recognized for her hard work.

Nicholson said she recently fell in love with photography while taking a digital imaging class at the high school, taught by Nicole Nelson. It opened her eyes to the possibility of turning this into a serious hobby or maybe even a career someday.

When it came to this project, Nicholson found herself in the parking lot of St. Patrick Catholic Church, right across from the high school.

"I was over at the church and saw all the leaves blowing and thought, 'wouldn't it be cool if I got pictures of moving leaves?' and then I saw the can," she said. "I did this in black and white to get all of that contrast."

So she waited for the right moments, and even tossed some leaves into the air while taking photos, and the result was nothing short of spectacular.

The following students from the high school were also selected to have their artwork shown at the Clear Lake Art Center for their youth art month celebration.

—Ali Storr, painting

— Keaton Gunderson, painting

—Ruby Zamorano, painting

—Jackson Oppermar, body box

—Emily Luna, moon

—Brody Strother, house

—Emma Artley Petit, portrait

—Nora Dunnwald, pencil

—Marie Mulford, swans

—Lillian Eberly, mask

—Perla Martinez, colored pencil

—Kaila Heiserman, mixed media

—Emma Dietz, mixed media

—Emmlyee Schulte, flamingo

—Isabella Salinas, shelf

—Elsie Kuper, collage

—Maiyelin Martinez, photo

—Liliana McNutt, photo

—Rann Varrelman, painting

—Juliana Cruz, watercolor

—Aaliyah Barber, watercolor

—Harlee Christianson, drawing

—Caiya Bolland, watercolor

—Addison Aalbers, colored pencil

—Kallie Nielsen, painting/ink

—Hayden Helmke, oil pastel

—Azalea Thomsen, drawing

—Avery Valerio, clay

This artwork will also be display through the month of March.