CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - On Thursday, March 19, John Jay High School hosted the annual Rite of Spring Art Show.
“It usually coincides with the school musical,” said Amy Stockfield, who teaches ceramics and AP Drawing. Running through Sunday, the exhibit is far more than an opening act.
“The exhibition gives students an opportunity to showcase what they’ve been working on,” she added.
Leo Pryor was among the first to draw attention, displaying a pair of haunting creations titled Mad Dog and Alex G. “I like to tell stories, and I use art to express them,” Pryor said.
His father, Jeff Pryor, considered that an understatement. “Leo never ceases to amaze me,” he said.
Pryor didn’t limit his praise to his own work. “The work is fantastic, and so is the way the school supports all the individual voices and pieces,” he added.
Sophia Shaw was among those voices, also exhibiting two pieces. One explores what it feels like to face antisemitism in the modern world.
“Sometimes it feels like a darkness coming in,” said the junior. She explained that the slumped figure at the base of the piece reflects how isolating that experience can be.
Even so, eight candles placed throughout the work symbolize a prayer for strength.
Her second piece was equally serious. Inspired by her research into organized crime, the image of a locked door represents the trap victims can find themselves in—particularly in cases of human trafficking.
On the same wall, Talia Doron found inspiration in figure skating.
“She has a lot of joy,” the 11th grader said of gold medalist Alysa Liu.
That joy comes through in Doron’s pencil sketch, though her work also captures the deeper arc of Liu’s journey. The skater stepped away from the sport to focus on her mental health before eventually returning to the top.
Doron is mindful of her own artistic process. “I like to sketch because you can erase mistakes,” she said.
Still, her favorite stage comes midway through a piece. “At first I’m a bit stressed, but the middle makes it all worth it,” Doron said with a smile. “I get really excited because you see the piece coming together.”
For Jameson Sandell, inspiration came from home. Her painting depicts her family gathered together, looking through old photographs.
“Looking at time,” said the senior, “the painting shows how different experiences connect and make us closer as families.”
She also reflected on what the exhibit represents overall. “I see my progression and growth, while the work of the younger artists reveals that same potential path,” Sandell said.
In the ceramics section, Cass Tondorf worked at the wheel to create a piece inspired by The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The familiar character winds its way across a bowl, a process she finds calming.
“Creating art is always a nice break in my day,” she said.
School Superintendent Roy Blanch appreciated that sense of calm, while also expressing admiration for the students’ work.
“I am so humbled,” he said.
Blanch also noted the deeper meaning behind many of the pieces. After speaking with one student artist, he observed, “Her three pieces are about the difference she wants to make in the world, and her future plans reflect that.”
Of course, not all the artwork carried a serious tone. Kiley Nelsen drew inspiration from the show Avatar, creating a colorful display of the four kingdoms that radiated from the wall.
“I’m very proud,” she said.
Her mother, Elana Nelsen, was equally impressed, particularly by the intricate details. “I want to go inside,” she said.
A fitting sentiment that left the final word to Stockfield.
“To be able to experience getting kids to tap into their creativity, to slow down and work with their hands, and see where their imagination takes them,” she said, “this is a great experience.”
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