The OHS Art Club rebooted in the fall of 2021. It has grown in the past three years and now includes almost 40 members. The OHS Art Club unites students from all backgrounds through their passion for art and is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where students can grow and explore interest in art. Members are offered opportunities to volunteer, showcase, and sell their artwork locally.
“The Art Club values all artistic perspectives and is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment where students can grow creatively and further explore their artistic interests,” Madelyn Parsons, president of the OHS Art Club, said.
Parsons became the OHS Art Club president in 2021. She took on the role of president to give students the opportunities that she wished for when she was younger. She wants to create a safe, welcoming community that all artists can be a part of.
“My goal is to leave behind an environment where art can thrive and continue within OHS,” Parsons said. “I’ve rebuilt this club from the ground up, and I aim to pass it on to capable hands to ensure the ongoing celebration and importance of art.”
Art teacher Tiffany Hershfelt became the OHS Art Club sponsor during her first year teaching at OHS in the fall of 2021. After the previous art club had fallen through due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important to Hershfelt to reboot the club that her students were very passionate about.
“My art students’ motivation really inspired me to help make an environment where students could find community and fellowship while doing something they loved,” Herschfelt said.
Creative opportunities are expanding for the OHS Art Club as members are branching out into photography and ceramics.
“Art in general opens networking opportunities that students may not have known about before, such as getting into a college or taking an alternative path that could launch them into their dream career,” Hershfelt said.
One of OHS Art Club’s biggest accomplishments is being accepted into the Double Decker Arts Festival two years in a row. Double Decker is a very competitive arts festival and only half of the applicants get accepted each year. The club’s goal for this year is to be accepted into the festival for a third year, and to enter the annual Poster Design Contest.
“The Art Club never ceases to amaze me,” Hershfelt said. “Along with Double Decker, we participate in various art shows at OHS, The University of Mississippi’s Honors College, The Powerhouse, and The Conference Center. We also paint props for theater and CTE, as well as paint faces at various festivals.”
The OHS Art Club offers students multiple perspectives on all the opportunities and possibilities for life after high school, and in one of the most fun ways possible: making art with friends. Hershfelt wants to support all of her students as they transition through one of the most challenging times of their lives.
“This club is important to me because it’s important to students,” Hershfelt said. “I want to give them opportunities to find an outlet where they can express themselves. Art is a great way to help students discover themselves as individuals and find what inspires or motivates them.”
