Creators in the Portfolio & Art Careers class take part in Hudson Valley Portfolio Day
Last Friday, 25 students in WVHS art teacher Kristen Spano’s Portfolio & Art Careers class took the invaluable opportunity to have their artwork, along with their post-high school plans, reviewed by experienced counselors/artists from more than 30 colleges and universities! Ms. Spano and her students traveled to the Poughkeepsie for the Hudson Valley Regional Portfolio Review Day (Portfolio Day). Portfolio Day has been going on for more than 20 years and welcomes over 400 local students annually. It is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and by monies received from the New York State Council on the Arts.
During Portfolio Day, experienced mentors in the visual arts world critique students’ portfolios and shared concise, actionable feedback and suggestions with them about their work, careers available to them in the art field, and the college application process as it relates to aspiring artists. The WVHS artists took with them portfolios made up of 10-20 of their best, most recent visual works, along with pieces in progress and sketchbooks, which they could use to share more detail about their own creative processes when asked. Students who participate in Portfolio Day gain the type of firsthand professional insight and guidance that gives them a decided leg up when it comes to putting their post-high school plans in motion.
“Some of our seniors even received what’s called a portfolio waiver for their exceptional artwork,” said Ms. Spano. “That means those students won’t have to formally submit their portfolios online for college acceptance, since a counselor has already approved their artwork in person during the Portfolio Day event.”
Ms. Spano’s class is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for WVHS juniors and seniors to deepen their artistic knowledge and skills. The class delivers a unique combination of creative and practical education and support, leading students through the process of building a portfolio of their artwork while also mapping out collegiate and career pathways in the art field. Students who choose to take on the Portfolio & Art Careers class need to exhibit advanced drawing and design skills and should be able to create in a variety of media. Each student is challenged to not only build their portfolio of 15-18 pieces, but to also go on two or three college/career-related visits, and put on a one-person exhibition of their work.
Portfolio Day is put together by The Art Effect, and organization that “empowers young people to develop their creative voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. The Art Effect helps youth explore, experience, and excel in the arts, introducing them to visual arts and media, giving them the opportunity to develop real skills in these fields, and guiding them towards achieving their academic and career goals.” (thearteffect.org)
At Warwick Valley High School, the art department offers students a catalog of courses that encourage imagination and individual expression, teaching aspiring artists the applicable skills they need to realize their visions and aspirations. The district’s art curriculum aligns with our Portrait of a Graduate, and specifically helps cultivate the traits of being Creators and Collaborators who are ready to thrive in and contribute to their communities.
“I’m so proud of the students who put their work out there for review, and as a way to express their gratitude to the counselors who took the time to review their portfolios, they created postcards that represented themselves and their artwork,” said Ms. Spano. “The postcards also gave the students a chance to leave a lasting impression with the admission counselors! ”