Art Reflects Life at Elmhurst College Exhibit

York High School sophomore Trisha Rhea wants to use her artistic talent to help children in therapy.

York senior Connor Hughes wants to go into graphic art, although his current work involves a sympathetic look at the common, working man.

The work of these student artists, along with that of scores of other students from schools all over the area, is on display through Wednesday at the Frick Center at Elmhurst College. Works in acrylic, oils, watercolor, photography, drawing and mixed media are featured. 

Students at York had their work on display at the school for a week prior to the Elmhurst College exhibit. The work was judged by other students and professional artists, and those that received awards were chosen for display at the college. A reception was held for all the artists and their families Jan. 12.

Trisha is a student of art teacher Amanda Claus. Her portrait of Einstein was a labor of love and a dedication to a fellow student who never finished her portrait of Einstein.

“My friend, who is now a freshman in college, started drawing Einstein as one of her projects, only she kind of gave up halfway through,” she said. “We were like, ‘Oh, poor Einstein, he never got finished.’ ”

When it was time for Trisha to decide what her topic was going to be for the class, Einstein seemed like a logical choice.

“I did finish Einstein. And I took a picture of it and sent it to (my friend),” she said. “It was fun getting all the different shades in his crinkly skin.”

Connor’s portrait of a miner was filled with meaning.

“The real imagery in the work is that he is smoking in front of these smoke stacks,” he said. “It’s meant to represent that he’s just become another piece in the machine, and just kind of a factor in the industry of production and profit.”

It is one of four works he has done with the same theme.

“With the first one, I was really redefining myself,” he said. “For the second one, I just decided I wanted to do something that would take a huge amount of time; it was about as tall as me and I spent like 80 hours on it. By the time I finished it, I’d really changed in terms of my style, and that’s what came out in this one."

He plans to combine his art classes at Illinois Wesleyan next year with business classes.

“I feel like business and art kind of go hand in hand for advertising,” he said.

The exhibit includes work from students at Fenton, Proviso West, East and West Leyden, Willowbrook, Addison Trail, Morton East and West, and Lyons Township high schools. Scholarships will be awarded to students from each school.