Batman and his Bat Cycle were among the most popular attractions at this year’s student art show at North Bergen High School. Held from June 2 through June 4, the show took place in the school auditorium, taking up the entire stage and backstage areas, spilling out into the audience with hundreds of pieces of impressive student work.
A wide variety of media was represented, from painting to fashion, drawing to sculpture, computer graphics to ceramics. The annual event traditionally brings together the finest work created by the students over the course of the year. And this year they outdid themselves.
Highly realistic portraits shared wall space with dark or dreamy fantasy scenes. Meticulously constructed models of local buildings vied for attention with imaginative Escher-like architecture created on computers.
North Bergen High School art students often go on to win awards and accolades from around the state.
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Still, it was the Bat Cave that kept the kids coming back for repeat visits. Built by a group of students under the supervision of Art Teacher Steven Defendini, it included many recreated props from the Dark Knight comics and movies, complemented by smoke, atmospheric lighting, and moody music. The project took since February to complete.
According to Defendini, the show was such a success they needed crowd control.
For the second year in a row the exhibit was also open to the public for one night, allowing parents and residents to enjoy the collected talents of the young artists.
North Bergen High School art students often go on to win awards and accolades from around the state. Recently, some of the school’s art students won awards at the William Paterson annual student art exhibit as well as the Hudson County Teen Arts held in Bayonne. Some of these students were Celeste Izquierdo, Sarahi Medina, Ariana Cruz, Paul Sepulveda, and Daniela Valencia.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.