2019 Philanthropy Assembly

Great job DGS Fine Arts staff and students as part of the school-wide philanthropy assembly today!

Transformative Experiences: Music Brings Us Together

Thank you to the musicians of the Bietigheim-Bissingen Jugendblasorchester for sharing their music with our District 99 community. Tonight's concert capped off another wonderful exchange with the students and staff of the Musikschule. 

Congratulations to the members of the DGS Wind Ensemble, and the DGN Wind Ensemble, for opening the program with outstanding performances.

We look forward to returning to Germany in the summer of 2020 with the District 99 Honors Band, and celebrating the 35th year of our exchange program!

German Victory - D99 Retains "Loser's Cup"

Congratulations to our friends from the Bietigheim-Bissingen Musikschule on their victory in the exchange's traditional "Loser's Cup" match. This year's friendly, moved indoors due to snow, was a hard-fought battle. While the American team led in shots-on-goal, the 3-1 victory for Deutschland was a testament to the Musikschule's passing skills and pin-point accuracy when pressing offensively.  

The Loser's Cup will remain in the United States for another year, until the District 99 Honors Band finds a way to pack it up and transport it to Germany for a 2020 rematch! 

RAKU Day 2019

Facilitated by DG South visual art teachers Kathy Myles and Molly O'Brien-Prusa during a chilly adn windy spring day, DGS student ceramicists from Ceramics II and Ceramics Studio classes today participated in the 19th 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.  Despite the slightly chilly temperatures and some moderate gusts of wind, the pieces emerging and the student learning are all at a high level!

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 Thursday, May 9, 2019. It is a great day indeed to be a Mustang artist!

Willkommen Bietigheim-Bissingen Musikschule!

2019 D99/WPL Art Show

Congratulations to the student artists and faculty affiliated with 2019 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!

Best in Show 3D

Alex Pesci - “Tick Tock”

Best in Show 2D (relief)

Megan Lupie - “Tree of Life”

DRAWING

Emma Ansah - “Brooks”

Aubrey Vernon - “Beacon”

Hope Krska - “Techtonic”

PAINTING

Emmanuelle Copeland - “Dead Leaves and Yarrow”

Sami Mark - “Duality”

Goda Vertelka - “Dream Me”

CERAMICS - FUNCTIONAL

Jordan Spencer - “Serenity”

Lizzy Andonova - “Twisted in Blue”

Natalia Ruiz - “Etched”

CERAMICS - SCULPTURAL

Kristina Pietrzak - “Breath of Hope”

Clara Awad - “Country”

Jennifer Hedberg - “Amber”

PHOTOGRAPHY

Kaylee Kushta - “Between and Rock and a Hard Place”

Jenny Branch - “Drowning”

Emily Ermel - “Sweet Terror”

DIGITAL ART

Jonah Blazek - “Open Mic”

Jordan Hill - “Burnt Lights, Dead City”  

Mitch Kravec - “The Future is Him”

MIXED MEDIA

Judith Paniagua-Chavez - “The Apple She Ate”

Mitch Kravec - “All Stitched Up”

Sami Mark - “Prismatic”

JEWELRY

Juliana Crooks - “Copper Etched Earring with Pink Dangles”

Gabby Boone - “Spinner Ring”

Amanda Operana - “Copper Etched Pendant with Pale Pink Bead”