District 99 Orchestra Performs This Thursday! #99Learns

The final District 99 Orchestra Concert of the 2017-18 academic year will take place on Thursday, May 3. The concert is FREE and begins at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High School. Doors open for General Admission seating at 6:30 PM.

The program will feature the Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, and soloists Joseph Delorto and Cecilia Kowara.  

Out-of-town family and friends may view the concert live-stream on the DGN Fine Arts YouTube Channel. Video will also be available to view once the concert concludes. 

RAKU Day 2018

Facilitated by DG South visual art teachers Kathy Myles and Molly O'Brien-Prusa during a cool spring day, DGS student ceramicists from Ceramics II and Ceramics Studio classes today participated in the 18th annual Raku/Primitive Firing event at South High School in Downers Grove.  Raku pottery is created with a specific ceramic firing process that uses extreme temperatures, fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. Western-style raku usually involves removing pottery from the kiln while at bright red heat and placing it into containers with combustible materials. Once the materials ignite, the containers are closed. This produces an intense reduction atmosphere which effects the colors in glazes and clay bodies. The drastic thermal shock also produces cracking (known as crackling since it is deliberate).The student work that emerges from the smoke and fire of the day is visually stunning.

Karl Mankert, our RAKU "guru" from Chicago Kiln Service, was impressed by the work, and, the work ethic of the South HS ceramicists.  In addition to providing the equipment for the RAKU day, Mr. Mankert coaches and teaches the student artists in the subtle techniques of RAKU firing.  Special thanks to Friends of Fine Arts (FOFA) for supporting Mr. Mankert's visit and his work with student artists.

Look for these brilliantly developed pieces during the coming Spring Art Show starting on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. It is a great day indeed to be a Mustang artist!

DGS Caracole Yearbook earns Citations

On Friday, April 20, 2018 the Northern Illinois School Press Association (NISPA) held their annual awards conference.  The 2016-2017  South High School Yearbook earned the following citations from the panel of judges:

Honorable Mention Award for Concept Coverage

Honorable Mention Award for Theme

Honorable Mention for Design

Blue Ribbon Award for Photography

Bronze Certificate for Excellence in Journalism

Congratulations to all the student staff members from the 2016-2017 DGS Yearbook and their faculty sponsor, Ms. Katherine O'Truk.

"All Shook Up" is a smashing success!

Congratulations to the cast, crew and pit and the staff affiliated with the South High School musical production "All Shook Up."  The show was a complete visual and sonic success.  The iconic music of Elvis Presley woven through a nostalgic storyline of an Eisenhower-era small town was simultaneously fun and provocative.  It was a great weekend to be a Mustang!

Walgreens Expressions Challenge Exhibition travels to Downers Grove South High School

Downers Grove South High School is proud to host the 2018 Walgreens Expressions Challenge traveling exhibition.

At its core, the Expressions Challenge is about guiding students to make better life choices about their overall health and well-being.  Using visual art as a means of communication, the Expressions Challenge empowers students to positively influence their school and community.

Congratulations to the following students and their mentor teacher Michelle Lynn for being selected to participate in the 2018 Walgreens Expressions Challenge:

Emma Gannaway

Kaitlyn O'Toole

Samantha Perkins

Kristina Tortoraitis

The exhibition, which is showing at the intersection of the "B" and "C" hallways on the first floor, will be on display for two weeks.  

"All Shook Up" opening tonight!

The student artists and faculty production team at South High School are about to perform, for four consecutive shows, a recreation of the Broadway musical All Shook Up. In every aspect, the production is remarkable.  The visual aspects of the show are breathtaking. The technical aspects of the show are stirring. The musical aspects of the show are impressive.

When unified in presentation, the arts reflect the human condition in a singularly unique manner. The fusion of music, drama, dance and visual elements communicates aspects of being human that enable us to understand ourselves to a greater extent. That understanding, in turn, activates the potential for awareness of other human beings that creates a platform for more effective existence.

The arts are challenging to assess and evaluate quantitatively. In something as complex as a musical production, it is hard to develop data points that can be measured with numbers. The inherent value is found at the core of our existence as a human being. This can’t be tested with computer key strokes. It is measured over time through the quality of existence encountered by each of us, whether a performer or patron.

The production of All Shook Up will enrich patrons, the process will enrich the cast, crew and pit. Congratulations. Thanks to each of you for the gift you are giving our community this weekend.

The show is in the auditorium at South High School in Downers Grove. Tickets are available at the box office before the show.  Show dates and times are as follows:

Thursday, April 19, 2018     7:00 PM
Friday, April 20, 2018          7:00 PM
Saturday, April 21, 2018      7:00 PM
Sunday, April 22, 2018        7:00 PM

2018 D99/WPL Art Show

Congratulations to the student artists and faculty affiliated with 2018 D99/WPL Art Show.
The opening was a vibrant event and the library foyer was packed with patrons!  

The show remains on exhibit until the end of April for public viewing during normal library hours.

Special thanks to our hosts at the Woodridge Public Library for opening this fabulous space for our student artists!

District 99/Woodridge Public Library 
2018 Award Winners


Best in Show 2D - Hailey Rodden - "Gone Fishing"

Best in Show 3D - Marie Smazil - "Twisted Roots"

DRAWING

Celestyna Jarzabek - First Place - "Past and Present"

Annie Le - Second Place - "Portrait"

Megan Lupie - Third Place - Portrait"

PAINTING

Sami Mark - First Place - "Daybreak"
Goda Vertelka - Second Place - "Still Life"

Andrea Davenport - Third Place - "Blissful Season"

CERAMICS/FUNCTIONAL

Caleb Minnis - First Place - "Safari"

Kristiana Radakovic - Second Place - "Oceanic"

Matt Greenwald - Third Place - "Mishi-Mishi-Ma"

CERAMICS/SCULPTURAL

Ivy Bukowski - First Place - "Cheryl"

Michelle Kuncia - Second Place - "Tower of Design"

Dylan Trouche - Third Place - "Trigger Fish"

PHOTOGRAPHY

Annemarie Elser - First Place - "At Peace"

Judith Panigua-Chavez - Second Place - "Life Cycle"

Samantha Perkins - Third Place - "Utensils"

DIGITAL ART

Megan Lupie - First Place - "Shape of Us"

Armin Tahari - Second Place - "CD Cover"

Lily Yu - Third Place - "Green and Blue"

JEWELRY

Tracy Kulaga - First Place - "Santa Fe"

Briana Nunz - Second Place - "Decolletage"

Tracy Kulaga - "Green Filigree" and Erin Shipinski - "Dirthara-Ma" - Third Place (tie)

MIXED MEDIA

Aubrey Vernon - First Place - "Anturium"

Emma Gannaway - Second Place - "Road to Nowhere"

Chrissy Markovski - Third Place - "Shattered"

2018 Memory Project

South High School Visual Art students from Honors Drawing 3 and Painting 2  recently submitted portraits for the 2018 Memory Project.   

The Memory Project is a charitable nonprofit organization that invites art teachers and their students to create portraits for youth around the world who have faced substantial challenges, such as neglect, abuse, loss of parents, violence, and extreme poverty.  

The portraits serve to help the children feel valued and important, to know that many people care about their well being, and to act as meaningful pieces of personal history in the future.  For the art students, we want this to be an opportunity to creatively practice kindness and global awareness.

Special thanks to mentor teachers Robyn Bican and Katherine O'Truk for facilitating this project for both the student artists at South High School and for the students from Syria and Jordan.

Congratulations to these participating students:  Nathaniel Angell, Emma Ansah, Gabrielle Boone, Asia Branch, Andrea Davenport, Jacob Durkin, Gerry Garcia, Adrianna Greiner, Luke Hennelly, Jada Hodges, Catherine Kammerer, Emily Karling, Hope Krska, Katherine Leinart, Jack Loris, Madeline Manganiello, Jessica Meier, Angelina Pantano-Severson,  Hitali Patel, Madelyn Puccillo, Marguerite Reynolds, Miguel Rodriguez, Vanessa Stover, Paxton Tomczak, Destiny Varela, Goda Vertekla, and  Kyle Walsh.

Andrew Mahlan, DGS Class of 2014, sings National Anthem at NCAA Final Four

Congratulations to DGS Class of 2014 alum Andrew Mahlan who was chosen to be a part of the quartet that sang the National Anthem at the 2018 NCAA Final Four at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.  While not a music major at Loyola, Andrew has maintained a robust singing schedule, participating in numerous choral ensembles.  While a student at DGS, Andrew sang the National Anthem at numerous sporting events.  To watch a video replay of the National Anthem on Twitter CLICK HERE.   Congratulations Andrew - thanks for continuing to keep music a part of your life, and thanks for showing us all what is possible when pursuing excellence in all that you do!