North Atlanta’s artists are gaining recognition beyond our eleven stories, having been chosen to create artwork to represent six of the countries playing in Atlanta during the upcoming World Cup: Honduras, Uzbekistan, New Zealand, Greece, Serbia, and Jordan. From February until August, these 18” by 24” posters will be displayed in the Concourse E Gallery at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. People from all over the world will see these beautiful finished products, but what was the process of creating them like?
When it comes to large-scale projects, organization and preparation are key. The students began by researching their assigned country, focusing on details like national symbols, flags, and soccer history. Understanding the country was crucial to unlocking inspiration, and once they had formulated ideas and sketches individually, the students combined details from their designs into a collective piece. From there, they split into shifts, with each person assigned to a job that fit their talents. Visual arts teacher Abigael Arreguin was proud of how her students handled organizing the project. “It was rewarding to watch them figure out the logistics and problem-solve,” she said.
After the initial planning was completed, the artists moved on to painting and detail work. The students bolstered their artistic and creative skills by using media and techniques they practice in class, such as oil pastels and alcohol markers, as well as blending and layering different materials. The project also provided an opportunity for enhanced collaboration and communication, especially under the one-month timeframe. Natilee Shay, an eleventh grader who worked on the Serbia piece, enjoyed seeing her class unite to complete the project. “It strengthened our friendships, even though it was chaotic at the end,” she said.
Aside from the masterful execution, the artwork represents more than artistic expertise. Each piece reflects the focus and talent these artists share. They demonstrate the perseverance and creativity of North Atlanta. Even more importantly, this project provided an opportunity for North Atlanta to make an impact on people from around the globe. Senior Diana Maldonado-Borja shared her enthusiasm for bridging the gap between NAHS and the soccer teams. “We want to share a moment of celebration by conveying our passion through our art,” she said.
By February, these incredible works of art will be displayed for the world to see, representing the creativity and willingness to embrace various cultures at North Atlanta. Ultimately, North Atlanta’s artists will move forward with more experience under their belts and stronger friendships. No matter how the World Cup ends, the NAHS artists are the real winners.
