Falling Into the Arts
Upper School students create rangolis in honor of Diwali
Autumn has arrived, and many clubs are committed to getting into the spirit. Among these include the National Art Honors Society (NAHS), whose schedule for October is fully booked with fun, seasonal activities where people can learn about different cultures through their artistic features and specialties.
On October 7th, 50 students decorated their own sugar skulls during lunch to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which ranges from September 15th to October 15th. Masks, markers, metallics, and gems were ordered and prepared, as well as reference photos for inspiration. Everyone had their own take on the activity and designs, and had full creative freedom. “We like doing these activities to connect our community through art and creativity,”, NAHS board member Ana Capsimalis said, describing the atmosphere as a “low stress environment to come together and have fun, regardless of your artistic abilities.” In addition to fostering a love for the arts within its members, NAHS strives to create an open forum for artistic expression through planned activities accessible to the whole student body.
You may have noticed the occasional stands set up during BPL where everyone has the opportunity to stop by for some brief activities. The latest of these was on October 14th, where everyone had the chance to decorate rocks with designs inspired by these sugar skulls using a variety of materials and resources, a continuation of the club’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. A few days later on October 19th, NAHS set up another stand where people could stop by and make Rangoli, an art form originating from the Indian Subcontinent, while learning about Diwali, a festival of lights celebrated in Hindu culture. Diwali, held between the months of October and November every year, is particularly associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. It is believed that the Rangoli symbolizes good luck and prosperity, and its designs are traditionally found on floors and other surfaces during celebrations. Rangoli is made by designing colorful patterns using a mix of various materials such as flower petals, sand, and lentils. There is a great variety of designs used, ranging from simplistic and geometric to elaborate and colorful. This activity was an amazing way to learn about customs and traditions from around the world.
Upcoming events in NAHS include an intense pumpkin carving contest on October 24th and a Fall Funday on October 27th during BPL, with activities such as splatter paint, ping pong pumpkin toss and more!
