Student art capstones feature in Eden Prairie Center exhibit

A Venetian Renaissance-era gown, hand-thrown pottery with ikebana, gold and silver jewelry, hand-drawn stop-motion animation, and mixed-media sculptures are among the original student artworks currently on display in Eden Prairie High School’s (EPHS) art capstone exhibit at Eden Prairie Center.

The school hosted the opening night of the art exhibition on Jan. 22 in the mall’s center court. Most of the works will remain on display there for public viewing through Monday, Jan. 27.

The works were created by 19 junior and senior students in the high school’s new art capstone class, led by teacher Amanda Budde. Students have spent the past 18 weeks working on their projects, including painting, drawing, tattoo designs, and digital animation.

Budde said the art capstone replaces the former AP Art course and is designed to provide students with more career-focused and professional experience.

Students began with project proposals and research into their chosen area, then connected with mentors at the school and in the wider community, including artists, local goldsmiths, and tattoo artists. Many also needed materials that were not readily available in the school’s art department and were given funding by the school to cover the costs, Budde said.

“Ms. Budde is the best teacher I’ve ever had,” said Moneerah Saoudy, a senior who designed and created a men’s and women’s clothing ensemble inspired by late 15th-century Venetian fashion. “She got me in contact with my mentor, Samantha Ray, a Minneapolis-based fashion designer who was on ‘Project Runway.’”

After spending about three weeks researching, Saoudy created patterns, striving to make them as historically accurate as possible. This included elaborate details, such as rings that held separate sections of sleeves together on a men’s garment called a farsetto.

Saoudy said she has been hand-sewing for most of her life, primarily working on small projects and clothing repairs. She began machine-sewing a few years ago and became so engaged that she decided to create her own designs. Now, she plans to study fashion in college. Displaying an elaborate green garment with 48 pleats, called a giornea, Saoudy said, “This was the first thing I ever made without a store-bought pattern.”

Tanya Ralph, another senior, displayed “Self-reflection,” a mixed-media collection of six self-portraits. Ralph, who worked with mentor Jonathan Harlan, said she used four media – paint, pencil, marker, and photo collage – to create images of herself at different ages, centered around a white-framed mirror.

In her artist statement, Ralph said, “I created the piece to represent myself and showcase my skill as an artist. The piece is designed to look like a photo wall, with the addition of the corner portraits, which display me in a less organized way than those confined to the frames.”

Abdulrahman Ali, a senior who has taken multiple art classes at the high school, including ceramics and digital arts, said he took the capstone class because “I just like art, and I wanted to make something professional.” Ali said he wants to continue creating and studying fine arts in college while potentially pursuing a degree in the medical field.

His digitally animated fight scene, titled “Energy,” was created with mentorship from Harlan. “Animation has been a big part of my life,” Ali said. After coming up with the initial idea, he created a storyboard and began working in Adobe Animate.

In his artist’s statement, Ali said, “I’ve always had appreciation for a good animated fight scene. There’s so much characterization and themes that can be grasped without any words, and something easy to extrapolate is what I wished to create.” He noted that his “main inspirations are anime, Pivot animations, and the many amazing works of Hyun’s Dojo.”

Maite Fairbanks, a ceramicist who has taken multiple art classes at the high school, displayed several pieces she threw on the pottery wheel at school, using some for displays of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging.

In her artist’s statement, she said, “My main focus was combining impermanent and lasting subjects. Even as the flowers remain impermanent, time slowly eating away at them, my pieces will stay the same. Throughout its display, the flowers will wilt outside of my control. It is a reflection of the moment.”

Fairbanks’ capstone mentor was Veronica Torres, an EPHS ceramics teacher.

“I love her very much – she is the best,” Fairbanks said. “She gives me a lot of freedom, but also guidance if I ask for it.”

Fairbanks, who plans to pursue a degree in fine arts after graduating in the spring, said she is drawn to ceramics because “it’s peaceful. It clears my mind. In order to make something in ceramics, you have to drop everything you’re thinking of and focus on your work.”

Casey Dale, an EPHS senior who transferred to the school from California in the fall, exhibited a collection titled “A farewell to childhood.” In her artist’s statement, Dale said, “My three acrylic paintings explore the passage of time, growth, and the bittersweet nature of aging through the lens of urban and industrial settings.” She added, “Through these paintings, I aim to evoke a sense of reflection and nostalgia while celebrating the inevitable journey of growing older.”

Dale, who is mostly self-taught and typically works independently, said she enjoyed creating alongside other students. “There is a lot of talent here,” she said. She added that her mentor provided valuable ideas and encouragement throughout the creative process.

Dale, who received several offers to buy her works but planned to keep them for her personal collection, said she was enjoying the exhibit, which remained crowded with visitors for the entire two hours.

“I honestly love the validation,” she said. “I love people looking closer at my art, observing and appreciating it.”

Budde said the community is encouraged to come and explore the student artwork. She added that the school is seeking more mentors for next year’s art capstone and invited anyone interested to contact the school to learn more.