Superintendent selects NOA entry for district purchase
Written by Shadrach Strehle, Former Student on Thursday, June 14, 2012
During the SHS Night of the Arts two pieces of student art were purchased. One sold for $300.00 bought by William A. Mester. Ph.D., Snohomish school district superintendent, another sold for $85.00 and was bought using funds from the donation of 10 assorted SHS teachers.
The painting chosen by Mester was a portrait painted by exchange student Andrea Juvik. The piece portrayed D building with students seated outside on the stone benches. Mester’s decision was made based on the aesthetics of the piece. (aesthetics is a philosophical idea based around a deep personal connection with particular items beauty). According to Mester the painting, “seemed to portray the context of the environment and students engaging. This lent well to the general aesthetics of the piece”.
Mester has been purchasing student art for ten years and doesn’t plan on stopping. Along with showing his support of the arts Mester “continues to buy student art because it acknowledges the contribution students can make to increase the aesthetics of our schools”. Mester did not get to meet Andrea Juvik but stated that “It would be nice [to meet Andrea]”.
The piece is currently being framed and soon will be hung in the RSC along with the other pieces of art Mester and superintendents before him have purchased.
