Every year, senior art students put their best pieces together and submit them into the annual senior art show. The same event comes around from year to year, but each time it has its own special twist that sets it apart from the others. This year, that twist is the colorful and fun-filled “Artigras”.

The show has a variety of pieces, displaying everything from sculptures to portraits, abstract pieces, realistic pieces, and everything in between. In attendance to opening night were mostly Barnstable High School’s Fine Arts III and IV students, along with their friends and families. Among these students was Kayla Salmon, senior, who described art as something that’s always been a part of her life. “I started doing it when I was really little, and I’m not going to stop. I’ll definitely take art classes in college,” she said. Her pieces on display are inspired by her favorite artistic themes. “I really love using underwater elements in my pieces, and I tend to lean toward realism.”

“The show is great,” added Katherine Doherty, senior, who is also displaying some of her pieces. “It’s cool to show the art I’ve made in high school. Maybe I’ll continue doing art in the future.” Regarding the influence of her work, she said, “I love realism, colors, and shapes. I incorporate all of those into my pieces.”

Mr. Carl Lopes, head of Barnstable High School’s art department, gives his students credit for coming up with the mask-wearing Mardi Gras theme for this year’s event. “Every year, my Fine Arts III and IV students brainstorm ideas after I show them examples from prior years,” he said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be a theme, but the show needs a title.” After going through a process of writing all the ideas on a whiteboard and holding a vote for the best one, the students decided on “Artigras” for the colorful elements, including expressive masks and vibrant beads; both of which are incorporated into the show itself.

The diversity of pieces on display includes work from Fine Arts III and IV students for the Memory Project, an initiative in which art students create original portraits for children who have been abandoned, orphaned, abused, or neglected. The art students receive pictures of children who are waiting for portraits, and then create the portraits in their classrooms. The portraits are delivered to the children, who are invited to make drawings or write thank you letters that are sent back to the art students. This year’s portraits have been sent to children in Mexico.

“People attending the show should expect a multitude of different types of artwork from all art classes,” said Lopes. Those classes include fashion design, graphic design, ceramics, broadcasting, animation, woodshop, and the art internship program.

“Artigras” is being held at the Guyer Barn Art Gallery at 250 South Street in Hyannis. The show is open daily from 2:30 – 5:00pm through May 22.