Art is everywhere. Just walking around Green Hope High School, the halls feature the murals and messages that have been carried through the years. The stories told with each intricate brush stroke that will survive for years to come are what is special about those who are honored enough to hold the brush. The National Arts Honor Society members are the people to thank for the beautiful artwork all around the school, and are the same people who take on the challenge of getting the public more in tune with the art around them.
The National Arts Honor Society was created in 2005 and has morphed and changed over the years due to all the new and old members that have shaped the organization to what it is today. On Oct. 22, the NAHS welcomed 12 new members to join them on the adventure of expanding their knowledge of art. The members and the officers of the organization generally lead with what they are going to accomplish during the school year, which ends up greatly changing the direction of the society that year. This year, it seems to be heading in the direction of murals for the school and the community, as said by NAHS officer Alex Steele.
Other than murals around the school and in the community, the NAHS takes on many different opportunities to use art for good, such as painting doors for Habitat for Humanity, painting chairs for cancer fundraising, painting faces at festivals and many more! When asked about the future projects the society may take on, the Green Hope NAHS supervisor, Ms. Poppe, responded, “Now that we have our new members, that’s when we start planning what we want to do as a group- and it’s not just us setting the whole stage and being like ‘this is our whole schedule for the year’. We like to flow with what is possibly going to pop up in our schedule, but also do what we want to do”.
Beyond art projects for the public, they hold art shows where they sell their artworks to the community. Many of these art shows happen during concerts, so they can have more exposure and get the opportunity to give their artwork to a broader audience. When not taking on a new project, the NAHS prepares artwork to sell at said art shows.
Joining the NAHS is a once-a-year process that requires a lot of qualifications to get in; however, the sense of community that they build and the work that they do make it all worth it in the end. This impressive group of artists takes on many challenges to advocate and to bring awareness to many different causes that help these artists make a difference while also working to benefit the community, doing things like making backdrops for certain local events.
The National Arts Honor Society will continue to grow as members come and go, while they take on more responsibilities and projects that will not only grow their own experience but will help the community. Whether it’s fundraising, spreading awareness, or doing projects for others, the Green Hope National Arts Honor Society will continue its amazing work throughout the rest of the year and for years to come.
