12th grade

6th period

The social issue I chose is women’s rights. The reason why I decided to make a painting of this social issue because of the situation that is going on in the political offices and around the world especially in the Afghanistan. I believed that nobody understands what women are going through right now and how much we need women’s rights.

The artwork represents of what women are going through in Afghanistan is, the women wearing a burqa standing around staying silent, while they’re wearing the burqa the red in the background represents feeling of fear and helpless. They think that having the women to be silenced outside of their home it’s a religious obligation. However it’s a sense of control over on those women.

The strategy I used to create my work is imposed identity, satire, signs and material in meaning.

The elements of art that I used in the artwork is color, form, shape, and texture.

Aiden Garibay

The people of disability

Grade level: 9th grader

Per. 3

I chose ableism because you need treat fairly to people with disability.

My artwork represents is people with disability and treat they fairly.

My artwork use identity vs imposed identity and poster.

The element of art is color.

The principles of design is emphasis.

12th Grade

Climate Change/Pollution

My artwork portrays the social issue in many ways, first, it depicts the word "Love" using the earth 🌎 as an "O", and a heart ❤️ as a "V". This shows to Love the earth that we all live on and is speaking out against recklessly damaging it.

The elements of art used are color, shape, and line.

My artwork is like an advertisement or could also be used a sign to protest.

Grade 11

Period 1

I chose discrimination because I believe that any skin color you are, you should have the same amount of power as any other person

My artwork portrays my social issue by showing a white colored hand covering the mouth of a black man, showing that white people have more power of black people showing discrimination while silencing him

I firstly painted my cardboard with all red showing the pain. I also painted the words golden symbolizing resistance or voice trying to shine through.

I used acrylic paint for my entire painting and black marker to show the edges and bring out the drawings

Grade: 12th

Class period: 1

• The social issue I chose was animal rights, I selected this issue because animals are living beings with real emotions and deserve to live free without harm and don't have a voice to speak up.

• My artwork portrays my social issue by showing a needle and makeup objects used to be tested on animals with blood dripping from the needle.

• The strategy I used in my artwork was process/material meaning because the bold lettering refers to speaking out loud and the objects show the injustice they go through and what is being used to test on them.

•The elements of art that is noticeable in my artwork is color and symbols. The principles used in my artwork is Emphasis making the message bold and clear on animal kindness.

Title: The beauty Humans are ruining

Grade level: 11th

Class Period: 2nd

• Social issue and why: The social issue i picked was ocean pollution. I decided to choose ocean pollution as my social issue because as someone who loves the beach it’s slowly getting ruined and the oceans are now filled with so much trash.We all love the beauty of the beach and ocean but we are slowly ruining the beauty with trash.

• Explain how your artwork portrayed the issue: My artwork portrayed the issue of ocean pollution by having everyday trash we see as the ocean water. I added the beautiful orca and made a beautiful sunset as the background which represents the beauty we see and only want to see but adding the trash to show how we are ruining the beauty.

Strategy I used to create my work

• Humor/satire: Humor is a big one in my artwork because some may seem how funny the trash is because it’s part of our everyday life and we see at least one of these trash pieces a day. It also can be humor due to how quickly the trash was collected and how so much was collected.

• Process/material in the meaning: Process/material is a strategy I used to create my work because i used a reusable cardboard to paint my painting. I used everyday materials as said before trash. The process was me collecting trash i saw within about 3 days.

  
  

• Elements of Art & Principle of design

  1. Color: Throughout my art work i used the element of color. I used different colors from yellow pink blue and orange to create this beautiful sunset allowing for viewers to enjoy and appreciate the pretty sunsets we see at the ocean. There was so much color in my art with the different trashes as well.

  2. Emphasis: The principle of design i used in my artwork was emphasis. I collected so much trash and made it the main attention, in other words the trash was my focal point. While working on my artwork and finishing i had people draw their eyes directly to the trash.

  3. Texture: With my artwork comes a lot of texture which is an element of art. The cardboard itself has a bumpy texture but mainly we can find texture with all the different trashes i collected they all different textures within the painting.

WIM

12

Period 6

I chose poverty because money is one of the most important things in life but sometimes the people who deserve it have a hard time getting it.

My project is simple but it means a lot because it shows a dollar bill with the numbered crossed out and George Washington is colored out which shows emptiness which I think in my project can be represented as worth nothing or not having value.

I used sign advertisements, posters.

Social issue selection

-The social issue I choose is poverty because many people struggle in the darkness where people aren’t able to help and they end up being alone and don’t know what to do with their life and they also struggle with many other stuff mentally which makes them believe they can’t do anything anymore.

Artwork explanation

-my artwork could be put into different perspectives but one big perspective at the same time, for example where the stick man is falling and the no money weight starts falling it will eventually fall with the no food weight and no housing weight since money is used for those types of things so if there isn’t money there’s none of the weights of food and money and for the stockman running with no housing weight, people run from their problems instead of facing them so eviction could be a problem people just run away from and start living off the streets since they have no money like I mentioned. In the end if it keeps going like this it eventually leads to death and won’t bring you anything and you just fall.

Creation strategy

The strategy I used is identity vs. Imposed Identity which defines what poverty is and the meaning I put into my painting which was all in order for people to understand that there are multiple aspects of poverty.

Elements of art & Principles of design

The elements of art I utilized were space and line with many space being left alone with on my cardboard and then line being used with the mountain with the cracks.

The principle of design I used was movement which was highlighted with the stickman at the bottom running away and the movement of the weights and the guy falling down from the mounting at the edge on the left. I also used it with the other stickmen by then carrying the weights up on the mountain and it’s like a cycle of them going to fall down on the mountain which explains the movement principle.

Weight of the Mind

11th Grade

Period:3

• I chose to make a painting representing mental health in youth because it’s something that affects a lot of people my age. Mental health in younger generations is often misunderstood and ignored and I wanted to create something that represents how heavy and real it can feel.

• In my painting I showed a person with a tangle of scribbles coming out of their head which represents the overwhelming thoughts and emotions they have. Around the head I included words like “Anxiety”, “Unwanted” and “Depression” to represent the negative thoughts that fills the minds of people who struggle with mental health. The figure is painted in black, white and gray to reflect the feeling of emptiness, while the red words represent how loud and intense those feelings are.

• The strategy I used was identity vs imposed identity. The words surrounding the head represent how those struggling with mental health are often labeled or feel labeled by others or by themselves. These labels don’t define who the person really is, they are voices in their head that try to take control of their self-worth.

• I used color to create contrast and used black for the background to represent darkness, red for the powerful emotions and labels, and gray for the figure to represent isolation. Line was used for the tangled thoughts above the head which shows confusion and chaos. I also used value (light and dark shades) in the face to give it more emotion and depth. Balance was also used by placing the figure in the center and surrounding it with words which pulls the viewers’ attention to the person and their thoughts.

Title: Louder than expected

Grade level: 11

Class period: 3

1) The social issue I chose for my project would be about women’s reputation and leadership, I chose this issue because I personally felt a strong connection to this issue and it something that shouldn’t exist today or be discarded of. There are many stereotypes about a women’s role in society that has been going on for decades, unfortunately even today. My project would protest and reflect the wrongs about what a woman should stand for or how they show their revolutionary.

2) My artwork portrays my social issue by using a wide mouth to explain the loud and clear message of a woman’s leadership, referring bold. As well, the woman on the top right corner would influence to speak her truth or represent the reputation that a woman may face in society. Words that are both positive or negative. The message “Speak Your Truth” would loudly come to terms to speak for yourself and be heard, to overcome society expectations or challenged stereotypes.

3) The strategy I used to create my work would be sign, advertisement, poster and process is in the meaning, my artwork is a poster against the wrongs about women and speaking-up to the people who have ignorant opinions. But it’s also a reflects the meaning by its bold statement, “Speak Your Truth” representing to show the audience to listen or hear what is the truth of a woman’s leadership or reputation.

4) The elements I have chose for my protest artwork would be mainly color, I implied bright colors to catch the attention of the viewer and colors that represent more feminine. As well for my illustrated I used a ‘color pop’ theme to refer the past and present of women’s protest. Line is another element I used for the style, preferably sticking to the 2D style. For my principle of design, I stick to proportions which mainly focus on the mouth and the women on the right corner.

Title of artwork: Liberty

Grade Level: 12

Class Period: 1st

1. Social issue: I chose Immigration rights as my social issue because it is an issue that has been brought up often in our country lately.

2. Artwork: My artwork portrayed this issue with text directly addressing the issue, the monarch butterflies that symbolize migration, resilience, and connection of nature and culture. My artwork also includes a drawing of the statue of liberty, which represents the way the United States paints our country to be a land of freedom.

3. Creation Strategy: The strategy I used to create my work was Signs, Advertisements, Posters. My artwork is meant to be a sign to advocate for the immigrants who are treated like they don’t have rights in this country.

4. Elements of Art & Principles of Design: The elements of art and principles of design were value, color, shape/form, balance, and variety.

Title: Needed

Grade: 11th

Period: 1st

1. The social issue I chose was unemployment because unemployment is an issue that is growing by the year. Many families and individuals are being impacted by being layed off and not being able to support themselves and their families. This can really make people feel un useful and it could really take a toll on their mental health.

2. My artwork portrayed the social issue by showing a man and his kid asking and begging for money. They have 2 bowls in front of them with only pennie’s and next to them we see a hand giving them money. We also see the phrase “ He’s not working right now by choice The choose wasn’t his…” indicating that he didn’t choose to get layed off and it just happened out of nowhere with no time to prepare.

3. The strategy I used to create my artwork is Sign. In the painting we can read easily what is going on and what the work is showing. It doesn’t take time to understand what is going on and it’s pretty easy to see what the message is and point it’s trying to prove.

4. The elements of art included in my work would be shape, color, texture, and lines. The principles of designed I used would be contrast, movement, emphasis, repetition and proportion

Title of Artwork: The Two Subjects

Grade: 11

Period: 1

The social issue I chose in my artwork is animal testing. The reason I chose this issue was because I love all animals and the act done to these animals for human products is very inhumane. Two white rabbits are shown in my painting. The rabbits stuck in clear boxes used to keep the animal still during testing. The rabbits are shown with somre sort of injury due to being tested on. You could also see makeup/ fragrant promotion posters behind these rabbits to show what these animals are being tested for. They are being tested for beauty products to see how safe it is to use on humans. The creation stragtoigy i used the most to influence my painting was sign, advertisement, posters. For elements of art my art uitized more of texture with the wall and the clear cage itself, and different colors I used. While for principles of design my art utilized emphasis on the posters and rabbits and repetition in two posters and two rabbits. 

Title: Faces of "Criminals"

Grade: 12th

Period: 2

The social issues I chose for this artwork would be the matter of mass deportation that is happening all around the US under the Trump Administration. The reason I chose this social issue is because it has a personal effect on me, as a first-generation Hispanic who has many family members in danger of being deported, all for the simple idea that they are considered “criminals” even if they have been living and contributing to the US for many years now. 

My artwork represents the chosen social issue, by how many immigrants are considered “criminals” in the eyes of the Trump Administration. They are just ordinary people with ordinary lives, who contribute to society with their well-earned and hard-labored jobs they acquire over the years. But under the eyes of Trump's administration and ICE Agents, they are only seen to be criminals. 

The strategy I used to create my work would be signs, advertisements, and posters, to present the matter of mass deportation, of how signs and posters present misinformation about others. 

The elements of art I used a lot in this artwork of mine would be the concept of line and color, to create the people and to represent the certain flag they belong to. The principles of design I used were a matter of pattern and repetition. In order to present the multiple posters and messages they place towards those who are shown to be criminals. I used acrylic paint on cardboard for my entire painting, and glue to paste all these small posters together to make this artwork. 

Immigration

11th grade

Period 3

The social issue I chose was immigration because I think it still a major issue going on in the world that should be still be addressed.

The strategy I used to create my work is sign,advertisement and posters.

The elements of art I used was color and principle of design I used was emphasis.

Title: Isn't this what you wanted?

Grade Level: 12

Class Period: 1

1. The social issue that I decided to focus on is the misuse of AI generative software. I wanted to portray how incredibly terrible AI is at doing its job and how much destruction it causes. The painting depicts a server factory In the middle of an empty plain with stumps everywhere suggesting that the immense energy that AI needs forces deforestation along with air pollution. The fuzed body parts rushing out of the server’s doors are the ones AI mindlessly creates.

2. The strategy I used to create my work is process and planning painting. It took me a few drafts to map out my idea ranging from thumbnail to colored sketches to the actual final product. I was also inspired by the horrid images cheap AI makes that everyone seems to favor since it requires very minimal work to get a “successful” end result.

3. The elements of art that are most prominent in the image are color and space. Both from the painting being pretty vibrant and the space within the intertwined limbs. You can tell which one is behind which.

Vladimir Rosales

Death to Poison

12th grade

Period 1

My social issue was chemicals and preservatives being the norm in society and my reason for selecting it was because this is so normalized people forget how much damage it really does to our bodies

My artwork is of a open skill smoking and all these harmful products being poured or smoked into the open skull, almost everything is colored in black and white to represent the oil and sludge that it is to our bodies some chemicals are even brightly colored to show that not all products are what they seem, meant to target children and poison their bodies

My creation strategy was signs, advertisements and posters

The elements of art and design that i used in my painting is line, color, and shade in order to show my skeleton as a meaning of death and how it should be taken seriously. I also used emphasis in order to make my skeleton stand out and be the main point of my drawing on how this represents how we treat our bodies

Grade 12

Per. 1

Homelessness

2 social issue) I’ve chosen to write about homelessness because it feel like they are misunderstood. I also believe they have a voice and should be treated equal as everyone else. They are also taken advantage of just because of the need for money and they will go lengths just to get it. I also think that they hustle more they others to get what they need to get.

3) artwork explanation) My artwork shows and represents a homeless person under rain with a umbrella asking for help. It identify that they don’t have anything that they are asking for help. It also shows the environment they have to survive through.

4 creation strategy) identity be imposed identity I’ve chose to do this type of strategy because it could happen to anything out of no where if you choose to make bad decisions in life. I’ve also chosen to do this because there are people who use to be at the top but then later made bad decisions and ended up to be homeless. The reason for it is to show to take life slow.

5 elements of art) I’ve chosen the following elements of line, color. The element of line defines the path and a point it taken through the space. And the element of color refers to the reflection light we perceive

Title of Artwork : body image

9th grade

period 1

2. Social issue selection

   The social issue I chose is body image because it’s a common issue with younger kids and teens, and it should be talked about more.

3. artwork explanation

   How my art work represents body image is that the chocolate bar shows a sweet and the mesuring tape represents weight and size.

4. creation strategy

   The strategy I chose is process/material because the choice of making the measuring tape and wrapping it around the chocolate sends a message and makes the message clear.

5. Elements of arts & Principles of design

   The elements of arts I used is texture that top half of the chocolate looks a rough surface which looks painted. and the bottom half which is with a real wrapper. and color is a main factor too, there is bold colors like the red.

Jesse Morales

Homeless

11th grade

Period: 1

The social issue I picked was homeless, I picked homeless because homeless is a very big social issue mainly everywhere around the world in the United States there has been over 771,000 people have experienced being homeless and are homeless, Homeless is a big social act because of mental issues, limited access to education and job training. I picked homeless as my social act for my project because there are many homeless everywhere in the world and are one of the biggest social acts in the world homeless are everywhere in the world.

My artwork represents the social act homeless because I drew a homeless sitting on the sidewalk asking for money so he can get something to eat or to save up and it’s similar to the real world because a lot of homeless ask for money for help.

The strategy I used for my project I used Signs, advertisements, and posters.

The elements of art that I used are shape, color and line. And the principle of design I used is color and emphasis.

No More

11 Grade

Period 1

The social issue I chose is gun violence, the reason why i chose this social issue specifically is because around the word gun violence is used often in schools. Many students and even their families are impacted by this. Lives are being taken and students are frightened to even step into school wondering if something can occur at their school too. Overall this is why i chose this major issue to speak out and spread an awareness.

My artwork represents student’s hands on the left to stop the gun from firing. Bringing an awareness to “ End Gun Violence” as its stated on the poster. In the background it shows clearly a school, setting the scene and the situation.

The Creation Strategy I chose is “ Signs, Advertisements, Posters” the reason why i chose this was to mainly spread awareness and speak out and try to send a message to everyone who comes across this poster.

Some of the elements of art and principle of design that are included in my artwork is mainly color and line.

Title of Artwork: Gambling Dinner Away

Grade Level: 12

Class Period: 2

The social issue I chose was gambling addiction and how it specifically affects families. I chose this topic because I know people in my family who struggle with different addictions and have witnessed just how negatively it affects their lives behind the scenes.

My artwork represents the chosen social issue because it references how frequent gambling can lead to losses so great that they result in not enough money for necessities like food. As depicted in my piece, not only does this affect the individual but the people who rely on them as well. Both the gambling addict and their child will starve if all of their money is gambled away.

The creation strategy I used in my work is the process/ material in meaning. The canvas is made up of losing scratch tickets, which each cost about the same as a meal that the child could have been eating instead.

The elements of art and principles of design I used in my artwork include line, color, and rhythm. The line and color surrounding the child’s plate and utensils help it stand out from the rest of the image and highlight the unexpected victims of gambling addiction. The rhythm comes from the pattern created by the scratch tickets, which symbolize the constant losses and unending nature of addiction. 

Title: Harmful Consequences

Grade: 12

Period: 3

2: I chose Climate Change (Air pollution in densely populated areas), many of the people that are affected by these problems usually have little to no say in it.

3: My artwork shows the unfortunate consequences when higher powers choose to take selfish actions which then affects others and their way of living.

4: I focused on using "Signs, Advertisements, Posters"

5: I used color in the bold colors especially red and bright green, form to create a specific viewing point, and unity to focus on the image in the middle and be supported by the wording.

Title of Artwork: Animal Cruelty

Grade Level: 12th grade

Class Period: 4th period

I chose the topic of animal cruelty because it is a serious and often overlooked issue that affects millions of animals around the world. Animals cannot speak up for themselves, and many suffer in silence due to neglect, abuse, and exploitation by humans. I believe it’s important to raise awareness about their suffering and to advocate for stronger protections and ethical treatment.

My painting shows a caged monkey behind thick wooden bars, with a sad and expressionless face, symbolizing the pain and helplessness animals experience when held in captivity. The cage is surrounded by a forest-like setting, emphasizing how unnatural and restrictive this environment is compared to the monkey’s natural habitat. On the outside of the cage, two human figures—a child and an adult—are observing the animal, highlighting the way animals are often put on display for human entertainment, especially in zoos.

In my artwork, I showed a monkey trapped in a cage, being watched by people. This shows how the monkey’s real identity—being wild and free—is taken away. Instead, it is forced to live in a cage and be an exhibit for humans. This is an imposed identity, and it represents how animals suffer when they are not allowed to live naturally.

Elements of Art I used:

• Line – I used lines to draw the cage, the people, and the monkey.

• Color – I used soft colors to show nature and a sad mood. The pink dress stands out.

• Shape – I used simple shapes to make the people, monkey, and cage easy to see.

• Texture – My painting looks soft and a bit rough to show feelings.

• Space – The monkey is behind the cage and the people are in front to show distance.

Principles of Design I used :

• Balance – The painting looks even with people on one side and the monkey on the other.

• Contrast – The free sky and the closed cage are very different to show the monkey’s sadness.

• Emphasis – The monkey in the cage is the most important part of the painting.

• Unity – All parts of the painting work together to show the message.

• Movement – The people looking at the monkey makes our eyes go to the monkey too.

Per 4

Grade: 12th

The social issue I chose was immigration and human rights because every human should have the same rights as everyone else. I thought of the term APARTS because I think every human being should have the same rights as one another. I chose immigration for my topic because I believe that everyone should have rights in a free country they say. APARTS stands for ALL PEOPLE ARE REALLY THE SAME. And the flag with the words (Equity, Inclusive, World, and Apart) is supposed to signify “Even if we’re Apart” The message that I’m trying to get out is people are people and one group of people shouldn’t have less rights than the other just because they have a different lifestyle than the average person.

The pink representing the femininity and blue representing the masculinity and purple represents both and everything in between.

Title: The Medicine Shortage

Grade: 12th

Period: 2

The unsustainable and broken healthcare system in Latin America contributes to thousands of lives being lost due to a medicine shortage and limited governmental funds. As someone who grew up in this system, observing relatives losing hope of “surviving after a diagnosis” was heartbreaking. All because “the hospital or clinics did not have the resources and medicines” they needed, which truly impacted my perception of the healthcare sector I was witnessing. My piece aims to highlight these problems through the green and dark hues/values, hidden textual messages, and materials utilized. The setting is a clinic, where old cabinets store one single medicine pill, representing the scarcity of the medicine. On the back, the tv showcases how politicians usually take credit and name themselves “Saviors” for donations that do not attack the problem but only cover it with fake promises (Satire: “Politician Donated 1 pill. He’s saving the healthcare system.” Lastly, the curtains are made out of napkins found in the art room, which is the same material utilized in clinics as well. Due to this reason, my creation strategies include Humor/Satire & Process/Material in Meaning. 

The elements of art utilized in my piece include Value; when highlighting the dark tones as shadows, color; since the color palette is dark and greenish which represents death and mystery and texture; since the curtains are real paper napkins. 

Dancing Men

11th

Period 6

The social issue that I chose is liberty and equality. I illustrated liberty and equality because the men are all different colors, sizes, and they are free to dance how they want. The reason i chose these two social issues is because i feel many people struggle with the freedom of expressing and being themselves, even as adults. The specific strategies i used to create my illustration is dedication and i really tried to see the movement in each character by Keith Haring. The elements of art that I used in is line, shape, color, space, rhythm, repetition, and pattern.

     The social issue addressed in this artwork is the ongoing housing crisis due to inflation and greed. I specifically addressed this problem because this social issue impacts almost everyone, especially those our age, who would like to move out in the next several years. Because of rising costs the idea of ever owning a home seems more and more impossible.

     My artwork uses irony to exaggerate the issue. This can be seen through details like the price shown on the FOR SALE sign, in contrast with the deteriorating state of the house. This is supposed to symbolize how much the prices of homes have spiked compared to the quality and condition of the homes. Other details like the wooden boards covering the windows and gaps in the walls with eyes are used to further emphasize the condition this house is in versus the insane price. Lastly, the silhouette on the right is there to represent anyone wishing to buy this home, realizing the impossibility of this by depicting them pulling their pockets inside out, unable to find the money to afford the house.

My artwork uses the majority of the elements of art, but specifically uses texture line, and space the most. Texture can be seen throughout the house as its used to give the house a dirty and worn look. Line can also be seen from just the shape of the house itself to the bold horizontal lines that span across. Furthermore, the element of space can be seen through the silhouette of the person pulling out their pockets.

Title of artwork: Gender equality

Grade level:11

Class Period: 6th

My social issue i chose was gender equality. i picked this topic because women don't get the same pay as men.

My artwork represents the gender equality issue because it shows that it doesn't matter what gender we are, we are equal.

The strategy i used was to make a poster.

The elements of art that i used was color, shape and value. i used color to represent the genders and how when i mixed them it created an ombré to represent that we are all the same and not 2 different colors. iused shape to represent the genders. i also used value with my dark background to make the colors pop more.

“Stop Human Migration “

12 Grade

P.1

The reason why I selected this social issue it is because deportation , crossing borders have been an impact and a social issue to the community. Not only that but it has affected many family’s . As well family’s live in fear . Crossing it’s not a simple thing anyone can do it’s a life risk either you make it or not . My art work represents the social issue, because it shows in a way how family’s are crossing together young as up to 1 year olds . It’s a tiring issue too you have to go through hunger , thirst and as well you can’t bring everything with you and as well you have to find ways to hide from ICE AGENTS.

My art work shows the identity of suffer , of change and a mindset to a better future.

Also the imposed of identity is how very disrespectful anyone can be mean or treat so bad to a race how helps out the community, they are the reason they have homes , jobs , good yards etc .. they should be treated equally. Immigrants have the most look on them because even if they do not have everything as in “money , food , homes, or even jobs “ they still mange to be the happy family’s with one another they do not care about the shame or jokes spoken about them . The process in material it is how it’s used and combined and with what material should be used to be able to be able to see a process into the art . My art shows and aware everyone about each of a humans story’s and life emotions, struggles and how they also go through many impact stages in life .

The elements work of art that I used were bright pastel colors to be able to pop up the back ground, I used screen tracing and shape to represent the figure of my art work .

Climate Change

11th grade

Period 1

The social issue I chose was climate change because it is a major issue that needs to be talked about more. Another reason I chose it was because it is changing the way the world works for the worse and we need to raise awareness to try and control and conserve our planet.

My artwork has factories on top of the world burning greenhouse gases and fossil fuels into the air. This artwork represents climate change because the burning of greenhouse gases and fossil fuels is the main contributor to climate change with the amount of carbon dioxide that is released and cause the gasses to trap heat in the atmosphere leading to a warming climate.

The creation strategy I chose was “Signs, Advertisements, Poster ” to spread awareness to the social issue.

The elements of art in my poster were mainly color and lines and the principle of design was emphasize and let my poster pop out through the color and lines keeping it simple but telling.

“Stop Violence Against Women “

12 Grade

Per. 1

Social issue in this art shows that even though out the years the impact on women violence, and women disrespect had grown even more throughout the years . There has been many protest to stand up and men still continue to beat women , even to a point where killing is involved. My art work represent the social impact because it shows there’s no justice for women in 2025 it as well shows how men are harmful to women and show no respect, and as well it shows how weak women can be to stand up for themselves and shows how men step all over them . In the identity in the art work shows that there’s no understandment towards women. That it will continue up to when a female stands up for herself or stays away from the bad’s. The humor is a point out of sadness , no way out , and depression and many of a impact of emotions as well . The ways of a process of art is on a focus and what or how you anyone wants to express. These type of signs are barley seen it is very rare to point out women get the most shame . The elements of art used is color pop , and a figure shapes an art work that will be understood if you see in public.

12th Grade

Period 2.

• The social issue I chose for my project is Homelessness. The reason I chose this issue is because it is a very visible and present one in my community and the greater Los Angeles area. Our city has been plagued by inequality, inflation, and rent increase that many cannot afford to combat. I wanted to help raise awareness towards this issue and the need for change.

• My artwork represents a homeless camp within an urban environment. This is a common scene in my neighborhood as those who cannot afford a home construct their own on the street. Within my painting there are also words on the deconstructed cardboard that represent that barrier between the homeless and the rest of the population.

• The strategy I used to create my painting was process and material. I constructed the lower half of the canvas by using jagged pieces of cardboard to show the decrepit state the homeless live in. On the top though I used a smooth, flat canvas to show the cleanliness of urban, gentrified life.

• The main element of art present in my work is color. In the homeless camp on the bottom half of the painting there is a great lack of color as the tents are in black and white, while on the top half there is a great deal of greens and blues representing wealth and prosperity. Because of this difference, the most dominant principle of design is contrast, present in the difference between urban and street life.

How much is too much?

12th grade

1st period

The social issue I chose is the overconsumption and production of fast fashion. I chose this as my topic because it has become more relevant, as I can see the decline in quality of the clothes in stores around me. This decline pushed me to ask the question: why? After research I learned that companies are choosing to produce clothing that is cheaper for higher profit, producing large amounts of clothes with no regards to people or the environment. This production has led to people constantly consuming cheap products, creating large amounts of waste and pollution. Thus creating a constant cycle of consumption and pollution, which isn’t right.

My artwork displays an exaggerated amount of clothes that take over the world. This helps convey the large amount of clothes and textile waste that is put into the world as a result of fast fashion. The hand sticking out from the pile, holds a phone that has an order confirmation on its screen. This shows how despite the large amount of clothes that are already produced and wasted, people continue to buy from these fast fashion companies, only adding to the problem.

I used the humor and satire to make this art work, as the large pile of clothes creates an exaggerated image that makes viewers understand the problem at hand.

The words “need more?” also act as a sarcastic message, as it was created from clothing advertisements. This message was to get viewers to think about if buying these clothes are really worth it.

I utilized texture, by drawing the earth with a lot of detail and using magazine advertising to create the pile of clothes. This makes the whole image feel more realistic, pushing the idea that this is a real issue that needs to be resolved. I also used emphasis, by making the clothing the largest part of the work. This draws the viewers attention to the large amount of clothing and waste that is a result of overproduction and over consumption.

The Heart of Home

Period 2

The social issue I chose is gentrification, especially  in Los Angeles. I selected this issue because it’s transforming many historic neighborhoods in LA like Boyle Heights, Echo Park, and South Central pushing out years of  residents, many of who are working-class people of color. Gentrification in LA isn’t just about new buildings; it’s about erasing culture, displacing families, and breaking apart communities that have existed for generations. I wanted my artwork to reflect the emotional and physical impact of this issue on the people who are being forced to leave the places they’ve always called home.

My artwork is split into two parts, showing the before-and-after effect of gentrification in LA. The left side represents a vibrant, rooted community. I used a variety of textures and colors to form a house made of torn-up packaging and newspaper in order to symbolize how LA’s working-class neighborhoods are made from resilience, culture, and creativity. The hearts, stars, and the red glove reaching toward the house show the love, life, and identity these places hold.

The right side is painted black and white, cold and minimalistic. It includes a sterile door shape with lock cutouts and bold yellow “CAUTION” tape. This side represents the new developments and luxury spaces being built in spaces that often feel closed off, inaccessible, and unwelcoming to those who once lived there. The contrast shows how gentrification replaces color and culture with control and exclusion. The vertical red stripe in the middle symbolizes the invisible boundary that divides “old LA” from the “new LA,” highlighting the forced separation of communities.

Process  in Meaning I used Process/Material in Meaning to bring depth to my message. I intentionally used rough, recycled materials for the left side to reflect authenticity and struggle, while the right side uses smoother, cleaner surfaces to mimic the polished but impersonal nature of gentrified developments. The placement and contrast of the materials tell a story of loss, division, and resistance.

Elements of Art & Principles of Design  Color: The left side uses bright, bold colors to symbolize life and culture, while the right uses black, white, and yellow to create a feeling of sterility and caution.

Texture:  I utilized mixed media on the left to add physical texture and depth, symbolizing the richness of the community. The right side’s flat surfaces feel lifeless and closed-off.

Balance: The work is symmetrically split, but intentionally unbalanced in emotion in order to create tension between the color and warmth, expressive left side versus  the cold, bleak  right side. 

Contrast: Strong visual contrast between color, material, and shape emphasizes the divide between community and displacement.

Unity and Variety: The house is made of varied scraps unified into a single shape, representing how diverse elements make up a strong community.

11th grade

Period 2

The price of knowledge

My social issue is college debt and the reason i chose it is because many people are forced to go into debt and get thousands of dollars of loans just to receive higher education to get a job and it’s ridiculous. Education not only should be free but at least affordable enough so that people wont have to put their families into generations of debt and have to worry about repaying for many years to come. My artwork depicts a diploma heading towards a pile of money symbolizing that many people after finishing college have large amounts of debt that still needs to be repaid and this is sadly a issue that affects a large number of middle class Americans today. A strategy I used was satire because people spend so many years of their lives working hard to earn a degree to potentially get a good career but instead people are just left with enormous amounts of debt to pay off. Color plays a big role in my painting because the background is red symbolizing the issue is something serious and needs to be resolved sooner or later. I also used repetition becuase I wanted to show that people own a large amount of money by drawing a pile of money rather then just some money. There’s also quite a lot of space in my painting as nothing surround the graduation hat and diploma as it’s going down the graduation stage to show the a persons diploma even though is a big achievement can be the reason why so many people struggle.

Equal Rights

12th grade

Period 2

The social issue I chose to paint is women's rights. This is an issue that I find to be very important, and something that affects so many people. Women's rights is something that is not talked about enough, so I wanted to share this through my artwork.

My artwork represents this issue, as it is a fist with a woman gender symbol as well as a lotus flower. These two images are important symbols that represent women. I also put in text that says "Women's Rights Are Human Rights," which gives a poster/protest type of vibe to my painting.

The strategy I went for was signs, advertisement, and poster, as I wanted to create a poster element to the artwork.

The elements of art that I utilized was value, color, and form. I mixed colors to create more and I used shadowing to create a more realistic image.

•Ava Bishop

• “Tall Poppies”

• 12th

2. Social Issue

•Tall Poppy Syndrome.

• Tall Poppy Syndrome refers to a social and cultural issue that many Australians face daily. The whole issue stems from this metaphorical idea: Imagine a large field of red poppy flowers, all beautiful, all the same. After a while, one poppy starts to grow slightly higher than the rest, and out of retaliation, someone comes along and cuts that poppy from the stem, back down to size.

Australians have a very backhanded way of dealing with others. Unlike other countries, (like the USA), we socially have been taught and forced not to “brag about our accomplishments or talk about our opportunities” in other words not to celebrate ourselves. I myself am a product of this in a sense. I find it very difficult to talk about myself, I can discuss others achievements for hours, discuss their strengths, gush about them. But I find it very difficult to say even 10 things I like about myself. If I do something cool, like for instance how I have lived half my life in the USA, whenever I come back to my friends in AUS, I feel bad saying it, because even though it is a fact, I feel like I’m showing off even if I mention it. 

3. Artwork Explanation

• My artwork is an acrylic painting on thick card stock paper, that was originally sketched and had its design finalised through a digital art medium. It shows a person that has a large red poppy flower growing out of their heart, that is shown outside of their chest. With the flowering part of the poppy sliced off with a slash shape, and with the roots of the poppy mimicking the veins on the person. With two roots twisting around the subject's mouth, and their eyes watering with crying tears streaming down their face.  With poppy flowers and stems of different sizes, falling down around the human. 

• I belive that my piece represents the tall poppies syndrome social issue, because where I’m from in Australia, tall poppies make people feel as if their accomplishments, their talents, their achievements have to be silenced. The issue is called tall poppies due to the visual that a field of poppies is all the same height, and if one grows taller than the rest, it is cut down to size, (bullied and put down by others until they feel quiet and not proud). My subject's mouth is covered by poppy roots that take root in their heart. All their achievements are being silenced and cut down by the other poppies, who are falling down around them, causing them all to be the same size. Having my person in the painting be heart first, chest out and bare. Showing how their love for their accomplishments spread throughout the body through the root veins, and have it cut from the largest root from the heart, with silenced tears as they are told that they are “Showing off”, and “too good for their community”

4. Creation Strategy

• I would say my artwork is identity vs implied identity, as the true identity of the person is being silenced by how others see them. Showing how they can’t truly express themselves without the fear of their identity being perceived as a show off. Showing how their identity is perceived and implied by their community rather than the reality of their existence and truth of how they feel. 

5. Elements of Art & Principles of Design

• The main elements of art shown in my painting is colour, lines and shape. Colour is seen in deep and bright shades of red, greens and yellows. Colours that have deep meanings in emotions. Green is shown for foliage, plant stems, but also for the phrase “Green with envy”, as jealousy is a large part in why people tend to put others down, cut them down to their size when they see them thriving. Reds for passion and anger, feelings of passion towards your achievements you feel like you can’t share, and anger from others for people who believe you are “showing off”. And yellow/golds for achievements, being the best version of yourself you can be, coming in first place, but having those colours be the thing that cut down your poppy. Lines are only shown really through the roots/veins of the poppy person. To show where the stem of the person comes from, their heart, and how it flows through them. The lack of lines elsewhere besides the stems of the poppies show how interconnected everything is in how a person feels. And lastly shapes. The lack of an outline on the work makes everything be an implied sort of shape of a flower, the different colours making layers of petals. 

• The main principle of design that my piece uses is movement. The poppies look like a freeze frame of them falling, and the slash with the large poppy just being cut, have implied movement that you can imagine seeing, like pressing play on a video. Not only that but the tears of the face are streaming down, and you can see the movement of the person's body, like they are reaching out their arms in explanation and almost falling slowly backwards. 

12th Grade Period 2

• The social issue I chose for my project is gun violence, especially in schools. The reason I chose this is because of how easily accessible and powerful the shooter can be, especially in a school environment where children and teachers are focused on learning. I wanted to raise awareness on this issue just because of the sheer scale of the problem and the solutions that could be put in place to prevent such events

• My artwork represents a shooting target that is divided into 4 of the most common causes of school shootings. They are painted into 4 unique colors as well as shooting targets have different colors to distinguish certain parts for easy recognition when aiming down the sights. The colors in this artwork however, symbolize the normalized presence of these subjects in everyday lives as social media becomes bigger each day almost like how color is an integral part of our lives.

• My strategy was to trace a cutout from an actual shooting target to create a realistic portrayal of my art and used a "mils" system to divide the target into 4 parts. After painting them with distinguishable colors, I punched holes in them to make it look like the target has been used before. It adds to the realism and also emphasizes (principle of design) the destruction these 4 things can create despite how small they are. And because of the human-like cutout, it also represents the identities that we all share, not just students that we endure and how powerful changing the negatives into positives can be.

“The Reality”

12th

Period 2

The social issue I picked was gender inequality, specifically in regards to the work force.

My artwork represents how men are constantly put on a higher pedestal whether that be for pay, peer understatement, and recognize action. You see the woman on the right lower than the man on the left, but while the man is supported by stacks of money, the woman has the support of her peers and girl community. This shows that in society women are constantly supporting each other in the fight against equality.

I choose Humor/Satire because using stick figures and very “kiddish” drawing skills, I believe I would be able to appeal to a younger audience as well because the misogynistic atmosphere is created even at a very young age.

Color was a big element that I focused on because the clothing colors of my specific subjects pop, making the audience be drawn to the figures and in turn they’ll realize the disparity between the left side and right side. I was also trying to build a contrast between the left side and right side with the size and colors. The left side is more mundane with a bigger presence whereas the right side is smaller, yet more vibrant and poppy. The negative space of the background is suppose to represent the silence and lack of discussion that happens with lack of gender equality even in our age today.

Title Of Artwork : Innocent Immigrants

Grade Level : 11

Class Period : 2 

The social issue that I decided to dedicate my painting to is immigration. My reason for selecting this social issue was due to the fact that we are currently living in a world where deportation is a huge act taking place. It is a major issue going on around the world. As a family member of immigrants it is sad and devastating seeing families get separated when all they want to do is provide a better life for their families. People may not understand how heartbreaking family separation is until they see it and live it. My artwork represents this social issue as we see a hardworking father fighting to keep him and his daughter together as ice agents pull them apart. Not all immigrants are criminals, they fight for a better future for their families. The strategy that I decided to use was Signs, Advertisements, and Posters. The elements of Art & Principle of design that were used were color, and line. In addition there are mixtures of colors in between my paintings that stand out more to draw the audience's attention and as for the outside some are able to stand out to represent the issue being presented. Lines take place throughout my entire art piece as we see shattered lines, lines on clothing, and lines on posture! 

11th grade

Period 2

Social Issue:

Rape, Sexual Assult, and objectifying. I chose this because I think that it is an important issue that these vicious felonies have become so overlooked by society. While there are protests and advocacy organizations, this issue is still widely overlooked.Rape and sexual assault should be more openly discussed in society because silence enables crimals and deepens the trauma of survivors, while awarness creates prevention, justice, and support. Addressing these issues directly helps to promote accountability and safety.

Artwork Explanation:

In my artwork I made a vase whose shadow is the silhouette of a “perfect woman”. I made it this way because I wanted to convey that several men often see women as objects that they can break, destroy, play with, etc. As well, I wrote “She Is Not An Object.” on the painting to act as a motto to emphasize that you can’t take whatever you want and treat people like they mean nothing and I believe that needs to sink into peoples’ minds. The shadows and value gradients that I use in the corners and the table are to for two reasons. One is to exhibit how rape, sexual assault, and objectification, is kept hidden and not talked about in society allowing it to continue happening. Two is to show how perpetrators who commit these crimes hide in the shadows. I made the lighting on the table brighter to show how lights need to be shined on these issues to prevent them. I also added dead and wilting flowers on the table to show how rapists take sex from women and leave them blaming themselves. However, I added vines of flower buds on the vase which look like cracks to show how even though healing from sexual assault is difficult and may seem impossible it is possible to become the flower you once were.

Creation Strategy:

I would say that my artwork is Identity vs. Imposed identity, because “She is not an object.” challenges to objectification of women/the identity imposed on women reducing her to something passive or decorative rather than recognizing her full humanity. The vase, a literal object that is used decoratively, has a shadow of a woman. This acts as a metaphor suggesting that society sees women as mere objects, but in reality there is a full person behind it. The contrast of the shadow and vase shows the conflict between how society defines women and how/who they truly are.

Elements of Art & Principles of Design:

For the elements of art, I used; Line to create the sharp edges of the table and the smooth roundness of the vase. The most prominent element I used is value in the corners, table, and vase. I use them to emphasize the shadows and light to convey the message of the necessity to stop neglecting these issues. I use space so that peoples’ attention is drawn to the writing and the silhouette. I use form to create a 3D feeling of the vase and table.

For the Principles of design, I used; negative space and contrast for the silhouette and the writing to draw people into specific visual areas.

Name: Vahe Arabchyan

Title of painting: "Odd One Out"

Grade Level 12

Period 3

Social Issue

Social Issue: Bullying and Social Exclusion

I chose this issue because it affects many people, especially students, in schools and social environments. Exclusion can be emotionally damaging and can have long-term effects on self-esteem and mental health. I wanted to emphasize on how damaging it can be to isolate someone from a group.

Artwork Explanation

The artwork shows a group of people standing together, while a single person isolated and facing away from the group. One figure from the group is pointing toward the individual, indicating exclusion. This painting captures the essence of being left out or judged, emphasizing the emotional distance and separation caused by social rejection

Creation Strategy

Chosen Strategy: Identity vs. Imposed Identity
This piece explores how society or peer groups can impose identity on someone by excluding or labeling them. The group has decided who “belongs” and who doesn’t, stripping the outsider of agency and identity in that setting.

Elements of Art & Principles of Design

Line: Bold outlines define the figures clearly, emphasizing separation and simplicity.

Shape: Simple, universal human forms communicate inclusivity while making the exclusion more apparent.

Space: Negative space between the group and the individual highlights the physical and emotional gap.

Principles of Design Used:

Contrast: The isolated figure stands alone, contrasting with the clustered group.

Emphasis: The pointing gesture draws attention to the act of exclusion.

Unity vs. Variety: The group is unified, while the individual is set apart to express lack of belonging.

‘Til Death Do Us Part”

12th grade

3rd period

     I chose domestic abuse for my social issue because I’ve been around many women in abusive relationships, who have had faith and trust in their husbands/ boyfriends and they've been wholeheartedly betrayed. So this work was just an expression of my feelings for those women in these awful situations. 

     My artwork depicts a pair of hands holding an old picture. The picture is of her wedding day. I chose bright colors and big smiles and tried to capture a happy moment between newlyweds. Her hands, however, are bruised and scarred. These marks were created by her “loving husband.”

     I chose identity vs. imposed identity and material in meaning (water color is very susceptible to change with the slightest drop of water just like a domestic abuse relationship)

I drew the art and used water color. I mixed colors, blended, and shaded in order to create the outcome I wanted. I used scissors to cut out the hands and water color and a bandaid to show the women’s marks of abuse.  

“Invisible Battles”

Grade 12

Period 3

I chose to focus on the issue of mental health, primarily in children and teenagers. This is a growing issue in society today, especially with the influence of school, social media, and personal life. Many young people don’t speak up about their issues and I wanted to bring attention to the importance of emotional support.

In my painting, the child crouched down in a fetal position is symbolizing loneliness, anxiety, stress, and pain. The slight hand reaching out symbolizes a gesture of support, guidance, compassion, and help. Whether that be a teacher, friend, family member, or stranger, there is always someone to help.

My creation strategy is identity vs. imposed identity. I used this strategy to compare how one may feel internally versus how they’re expected to behave and feel. Often, society pushes you to push through your problems, even though the child may be feeling lost or overwhelmed. The hand is symbolizing breaking that imposed barrier and getting assistance when needed.

In my artwork, I used color red for the child’s hoodie to symbolize struggle and the green sleeve to symbolize help. I also used space to emphasize the child’s loneliness.

12th Grade

Period 3

Social Issue: Ocean Pollution

Many areas around the world are directly affected by ocean pollution and have no known way to prevent or reduce the amount of waste in the oceans. This issue impacts the ecosystem, the health of marine animals, and even the quality of the surrounding air. I want to bring awareness to this problem, as the general population often disregards the consequences of throwing trash into the ocean, whether intentional or unintentional. Nonbiodegradable waste is trash that doesn’t decompose over time. This contributes to the declining health of marine animals, as they are more likely to consume the dangerous amounts of plastic accumulating in our oceans.

For my artwork, I cut recycled cardboard into the shape of a turtle’s arms and legs, then painted them with green acrylic paint. I replaced the turtle’s head with the top half of a mini Coke can, also coated in green paint. These parts were glued to the turtle’s body, which was made from an old recycled strawberry carton painted brown. Each piece of trash was chosen to represent the type of waste that harms marine life and especially turtles. I wanted to highlight the disturbing reality that animals are forced to live in poor conditions due to our negligence. The materials are not just part of the sculpture, but they are the message as well.

Form and color are the most prominent elements of art in my project. The turtle is  given dimensionality because it is created with 3D objects instead of being painted on a conventional canvas. Naturally, the turtle has a rigid texture from the holes in the container which contrasts with the smoothness of the arms, legs, and head. Unity is the main principle of design in my project as I brought together different materials in order to create one piece.

Title: “The Snow Is My Beloved”

12th Grade

Period 3

The social issue I chose is that of Global Warming, specifically ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is the buildup of carbon dioxide within the ocean’s waters, causing coral to become “bleached” and the colors of the water to change. I chose this specific issue because of my future career path as a biochemical engineer. It's the job of a scientist to educate others on issues that impact humanity, especially issues like global warming that harm the entire planet. By making this painting, I am helping to educate others on the impact of climate change. 

This painting depicts a serene scene of a bleached coral reef during a sunset, the water changing color as the lighting changes above. However there is not a single animal in the painting, no signs of life whatsoever. The colors of the water are also abnormal, as deep in the water the most natural color you would see is blue. Instead, there is a rainbow of many different colors, representing what once was of this coral reef. All that is left is the bleached coral and murky water. It is beautiful, but everything in the painting is dead.

The strategy I chose to employ was that of humor/satire. The borders of the painting consist of the final stanza of the poem, “The Snow Is Deep On The Ground” by Kenneth Patchen, written in 1943. The poem itself is all about how the speaker feels that the snow is beautiful, and that the world is a good one for themself and their lover. I chose this poem due to how ironic it feels with the subject of my painting. The world is not as good as the speaker thinks in this artwork, as the coral is completely dead and the water is the wrong color. The “Snow” in my painting is actually dead coral polyps and fragments floating around. Again, everything in the painting and poem are beautiful, but nothing is actually alive. That is why it is a form of satire, as it calls out the harsh reality of ocean acidification. 

The element of art that is most important to this painting is color. I used warm colors around the middle of the painting to draw attention to the strange color of the water. It also gives the impression of a school of fish, something once common to the reef but now long gone. This also adds into the principle of design I studied and chose, being emphasis. The rest of the painting is light blue, white, and brown, but only the center includes the reds and oranges and yellows. This creates emphasis on that area, highlighting again how all of the life has been drained out of this reef. 

Title; ordinary day.

Class period; #3.

Grade; 11th

Social issue selection;This was picked based on my experience with the issue and how it’s often not addressed and just accepted as a norm despite it being a frequently shared experience. It;s an uncomfortable thing to go through, especially since the individuals are always adults in cars.

The social issue; The issue I chose was public harassment of women, such as catcalling and other forms of harassment in public spaces, usually done on the street. My piece depicts this through the perspective of a girl on her commune home from school, being followed by a car as it repeatedly honks and shouts things at her. It’s intended to make the viewer feel the discomfort of the situation, how the girl is forced to ignore what’s happening just to get home.

Creation strategy; The strategy I chose is imposed identity, because as shown in the painting the girl is not retaliating to the harassment she's become accustomed too. Society has told her it’s better to avoid conflicts then to express boundaries. So she suffers in silence.

Elements of art and design; The element I chose to implement was color, it was the most implemented into my piece to catch the viewer attention.

"Man's Creation"

Grade 12

Period 3

Social Issue Selection

The social issue that I chose is generative AI, specifically with how it negatively affects the artistic field and creativity as a whole. I chose this specific social issue because it’s become a bigger problem, especially with how it’s advanced so much in such short notice. It has not only affected the livelihoods of artists, but it has also tainted the sanctity of art and how the practice is respected. People have attempted to replace the humanity of art with algorithms, which has been a major point of contention in the artistic and academic fields. This issue is extremely important to me because art is a part of who I am and what really keeps me going. I feel that it’s something AI shouldn't be able to replace. Art requires a soul behind it, and that is something AI will never be able to replicate.

Artwork Explanation

This work is based on the original painting, “The Creation of Adam," which was created by Michelangelo after being inspired by the book of Genesis in the Bible. In this book, there's a scene that depicts God and Adam reaching out to one another as a symbol for how God created man in His own image. However, I decided to put a twist on this by showing how people have used AI to prioritize generated creation over real, human connection within an art piece. Instead of God, there's an "AI-made" blob of arms that reaches out to Adam. It's not only a symbol for how some pro-AI people have reverence for this "new technology," but also for how it has the capability to become much too big to control. For this artwork, I painted with acrylic onto cardboard.

Creation Strategy

In my process, I decided to use satire to compose a contrast between the AI machine and the man looking at this creation in horror. Something to note about AI is how it struggles to create limbs, specifically hands at times, because they are notoriously the most difficult part of the human body for even many real artists to draw. I decided it would be interesting to make the hands correct, but the rest of the body indistinguishable from itself to represent AI as not being a living, breathing, or conscious thing. It emerges from the screen, no longer controlled by the people who prompted it to exist in the first place. It spills out of the screen, where in Michelangelo's version there would instead be angels or other holy figures rejoicing the connection between man and God. Man fears what it has made because there is no soul behind it. By putting an “AI-made” creation in God’s place, I wanted to show how some people have put too much emphasis on AI "in the name of progress," when in reality this progress is a cheap and lazy excuse to avoid paying real, hard-working artists who actually have talent.

Elements of Art & Principles of Design

The elements of art that I feel are important in this painting are color, texture, and space. From the left, a warm yellow light glows on the man as a way to say that what should be looked forward to is not AI, but something that's close to being forgotten. The sickly green from right behind the screen gives an ominous presence to the hands and arms, representing them as a bad omen. The sky is gray, with the clouds hanging low to the ground to give the feeling of danger. The texture on the skin of the AI creation also shows how it blends together unnaturally, making it feel not only gross but also like it just shouldn't exist. The space between the creation and Adam is much too close for comfort, which is why Adam is backing away like he's in horror of what he's looking at. It's also important to note that the AI creation takes up a lot of space, making it feel more imposing and serving as a contrast or juxtaposition between the man on the ground and itself.

Be Kind To Your Mind

Grade 11

Period 3

The social issue I chose is mental health because bringing awareness is important especially when people struggle silently. A lot of students in school struggle with their mental health also family & friends. This artwork represents my social issue of mental health because i painted a mind of half a normal mind and the other half flowers to represent happiness and peace. The words Be kind to your mind is a reminder to not always think negatively about anything. My creation strategy was seeing posters.The color and rhythm also form are the elements of art & principles of design that i used.

Title: Equal Pay Equal Gain

Grade level:12th Grade

Period:6

I chose these social issues after reading more about them while researching topics to paint and how much women are discriminated against in the workforce. I wanted to paint/talk about how women are constantly losing out on money promotions just for being born women. And also showcase how men do not believe that a woman is capable of doing the same job as them and get paid the same for it.

Since women first entered the workforce(Inside the U.S during the First World War), they wanted to do/achieve the same things as men, provide for their families, and make a living. But after males came back from the war, they wanted women to go back to domesticated. But more and more women entered the workplace, fighting for their place in the workplace at a time when the social norms still of housewives still being pushed on them. But some of the employers were underpaying women and paying men more for the exact same jobs. This pushed the Equal Pay Act. The Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963, It states/prohibits "employers from paying different wages to men and women who perform the same work in the same establishment under similar working conditions".This also includes different sexes and races. Even though this act was passed 63 years ago, women are still being underpaid and discriminated against in the workplace. They are constantly being passed on for promotion. Even when research shows that 39.7% of women have college degrees, while men only make up 36.9% of college graduates. Women are consistently seen as risks because they have decided to have a child. Women are seen as a risk because they can get pregnant. And also because men don't want them to work, instead being traditional to stay at home and raise a family.

The reason I chose to paint on cardboard and also paint with acrylic is that I wanted to give it a commercial look. Like it could be mass-produced, like it is painted for a protest to fight for better equal pay laws/acts.Which is also the reason that I wanted to use acrylic paint to make the colors big and bright, especially the color pink. Even though pink was originally a color that men used to wear, it(pink) has become a sign of being strong, wealthy, and powerful. Women wear it because, after World War 2, the color was pushed onto them. After all, "gender colors could drive sales to help differentiate products".I used it to show how to color pink to show how women are strong, wealthy, and feminine. The blue was used to create the outline of the men standing behind them, trying to assert their presence. The money falling from the sky onto the ground is a symbol of the amount of money women are losing out on.

Title of artwork: Homeless

Grade level: 12th

Class period : 4th

The social issue I chose was homelessness because it’s a serious problem that is quickly getting out of hand and it’s sad to witness people throwing away their lives.

My artwork represents homelessness because it shows how the streets in the valley and LA look when you’re walking or even driving down the road.

The strategy I used to create my artwork was signs , advertisements, and posters

The elements of art I used were form and color. The principles of design I used were repetition and variety.

Title of Artwork: Sad Bear

Grade Level: 10

Class Period: 4

2. I chose climate change because not only it is affecting people it is also affecting animals.

3. My artwork represents climate change because it shows how the polar bear is losing its habitat due to climate change and only has a little block of ice left.

4. The strategy i used was Humor/satire

5. An element of art i used was space

The Earth Is Burning 

11th grade

Period 4

I chose climate change because it’s a huge issue that’s already affecting the world. It’s causing extreme weather, floods, and wildfires, and it’s only getting worse. I think it’s important that we start paying attention and doing something before it’s too late.

My artwork shows the Earth on fire to show how serious climate change is. The person holding the “Act Now” sign represents how we need to take action. I used bright colors and flames to make it clear this is a big problem that can’t be ignored.

I used the “Signs and Posters” strategy to make my message stand out. The bold words “THE EARTH IS BURNING” and the figure with the sign are designed to look like a protest image. I wanted it to be bold, eye-catching, and send a strong message.

In my artwork, I used the elements of color, line, shape, space, and value. Warm colors like red and orange show heat, and the dark figure creates contrast. The lines from the flames and cracks show movement. I used contrast, balance, and movement to draw attention to the Earth and the message.

Title of Artwork: Rights vs. Standards

Grade Level: 10th

Class period: 4th

1. Social Issue Selection

   The social issue I chose is womens rights and standards. I chose this social issue because I personally connect to this issue and suffer from it as a woman myself.

2. Artwork Explanation

   My artwork represents the chosen social issue with the books that she had placed on her head in order to fix her posture and balance to perfection. In the Victorian Era upper-class women were to do this practice. This was seen as a way to cultivate ladylike comportment and elegance.

3. Creation Strategy

   The strategy I used to create my work is Identity vs. Imposed Identity and Signs.

4. Elements of Art & Principles of Design

   The elements of art and principles I utilized in my artwork are color, value, and, gradation.

Blue Statistic

11th Grade

Period 2

The social issue I chose to base my piece on was the healthcare crisis in the United States, because it deeply affects a lot of peoples’ lives and health. There are a variety of problems in healthcare that have existed for decades, such as increasing costs of medical services that make good healthcare less accessible and staffing shortages. Issues like these are ones that I find myself thinking about frequently, because I have seen how they have affected members of my family and I don’t want finding healthcare or medical services to be difficult for anybody.

My artwork represents my chosen social issue through its simplicity. By just choosing one sentence to be at the top of the posterboard, it spotlights this very intriguing and surprising statistic that shows the current state of hospitals and medicine in the United States. I also chose this specific blue to be painted on the entire piece because it reminds me of surgical masks, or scrubs that you might see a doctor in. Because the majority of the project’s meaning lies in just that one sentence, it was important to find another way to form an association with doctors and hospitals.

To create my work, I used the strategy of creating a poster to get a message across. The message in the piece was to get people to think about how hospitality in the country is not in good condition and how many people are not fortunate enough to be able to pay their medical bills, even for life-threatening and fatal conditions. The poster does not necessarily look like one you would see in an art gallery, but rather a statistic from a PSA you might find driving down the street.

The primary element of art that I incorporated into this piece was the element of color. Besides the wording at the top of the poster board, the color can be attention grabbing because it is bright, which I did also because I wanted people to pay attention to the words on the poster in the first place. Within the principles of design, I mostly used emphasis in my piece. Since the focal point of the poster is the wording, it only takes up the top part of the poster leaving the rest empty. This is to emphasize the sentence and have the audience keep looking at it because there is nothing else within the space.

No Address, Just Addiction

Grade 11

Period 4

The social issue I chose was substance abuse for homeless people because substance abuse has a huge impact on many individuals, families, and communities since it can lead to serious health problems, financial instability, and increased crime rates.

My artwork represents substance abuse for homeless people by highlighting visual cues of addiction and despair in which the figure appears to be tired and dejected, commonly associated with the physical and emotional toll of substance abuse. This artwork portrays the harsh reality of substance abuse among homeless individuals by combining symbolic imagery and strategic messaging.

The specific strategy I utilized was signs, advertisements, posters because it resembles a public awareness posted which commonly formats raising social consciousness about this social issue. This evokes a call to action which aims to engage viewers in recognizing and responding to substance abuse for homeless people.

The elements of art that were utilized in this artwork were color, line, shape, space, and value in which they all contributed to create a harsh and urban setting in which it draws focus to the symbolism of entrapment. The main principles of design that were utilized was emphasis and contrast because it allows the viewers eye focus on the cry for help then to the figure below. Contrast allows visual interest but also a deeper emotional tone which can be symbols of hope vs despair.

1. Student Information

• Name: David Lopez

• Title of Artwork: Let Us Talk About It

• Grade Level: 12

• Class Period: 4

  
  

2. Social Issue Selection

I chose mental health because many people struggle with it but are afraid to talk about it. I want to help break the silence and show that it is okay to ask for help.

3. Artwork Explanation

My art shows a red head with a purple brain to represent the mind. Around it, I wrote “LET US TALK ABOUT IT” to encourage people to speak up about mental health.

4. Creation Strategy

I used the Signs, Advertisements, Posters strategy. I made the message clear and bold, like a poster you might see in a campaign.

5. Elements of Art & Principles of Design

• Color: Bright red, purple, and green to stand out

• Line: Clean outlines for the head and brain

• Shape: A simple head shape to focus on the brain and the indentations for the crevices in the brain (swirly shapes)

• Balance: Words on both sides of the head keep it even

• Emphasis: The brain is the main focus to show the topic is mental health

Title: End the Violence

12th grade

Period 4

1. Social Issue Selection: The social issue that I selected was gun violence. The reason I chose this was because gun violence is a very prevalent issue in the U.S., it causes a lot of fear, and I myself do fear being a victim of such a situation.

2. Artwork Explanation: My artwork represents gun violence because it has the American flag filled with bleeding bullet holes, symbolizing the suffering and death that gun violence causes for the American people.

3. Creation Strategy: The strategy that represents my artwork is the signs and advertisements strategy.

4. 
   

5. In my artwork, I used color to create strong contrast, especially with red to represent violence and white to show innocence or peace. The lines and shapes of the American flag give structure, while the dripping paint adds movement and draws the eye. I used emphasis to highlight the words “End The VIOLENCE” by placing them in the center. The design creates a strong balancebetween message and imagery, making the viewer focus on the emotional impact.

“False Realities”

11th Grade

Period 6

The social issue I chose to work on is child labor, and how it forces children into harsh realities. I feel like this topic is something that goes overlooked and it has made me think differently about childhood, specifically how in wealthier countries, childhood is often seen as a time to learn and play. The principals of design and art that I used were contrast, color, value, and emphasis. The children painted in grayscale represent the childhood experience that is stripped away from them, and it sharply contrasts with the colorful drawings depicted behind them, representing the innocence and joy of children. This helps emphasize the deeper meaning of my painting: that not only is child labor unethical, but so is the way it prevents children from being a literal kids. Rather than being able to play and draw, they wake up everyday with a solemn feeling that no child should ever have. The strategy that I used to create my work was material in meaning. The use the Crayola box creates a juxtaposition: the bright, ideal world shown to children versus the harsh reality many sadly face around the world.

Title: Beach

Grade: 12th

Period 2

The social issue I chose was pollution in our environment. The reason I chose pollution its because its been seen more throughout the recent years. Nowadays, you can't go to the beach without seeing trash.

The way my artwork represents my social issue is by showing how the environment is supposed to look like without pollution and how it looks like with pollution

The strategy I used was Process/material in meaning

The elements of yards that I used was color, value and space.

Gentrification

12th grade

4th period

1. Social issue selection

   The social issue I chose was Gentrification in Hispanic neighborhoods. I chose this issue because I am Hispanic and have first hand seen gentrification in low income Hispanic communities and neighborhoods.

2. Artwork Explanations

   My art work represents an old house that has very vibrant colors that are more commonly used in Hispanic cultures. Besides the house there is two big buildings that indicate that the big corporations have already bought out the land but the only house standing with grass is the house in the middle. There is also a red wall way to indicate a red carpet as if it is saying that the house is a “Exclusive Residence”.

3. Creation Strategy

   My strategy was that I just thought if my idea by doing sketches and finding concepts and then creating my work.

4. Elements of Art & Principles of design

   The elements of art and principles of design that I used were color, Value, contrast

   
   

Title: Gamblers Always Quit Before Hitting Big

Grade Level: 12

Class Period: 5

2. Social Issue Selection

The social issue that I chose would be gambling addiction. The reason why I chose this issue specifically would be because that it’s not as talked about, compared to other social issues. Gambling addiction is especially prevalent in current youth as many influences promote it through videos, livestreams, etc, despite being an incredibly dangerous addiction that harms everyone involved.

3. Artwork Explanation

My artwork represents the social issue through the cards being held in the main point of view that read out “Addicted” in form of playing cards. The two skeletons on the right and left side that are also “playing” reinforce the end result of the addiction. Finally, the dealer at the front says “gamblers always quit before hitting it big” usually said in a sarcastic/joking matter but sometimes used as an excuse to continue on with an off chance of winning.

4. Creation Strategy

I was going for a humor/satire strategy. Although not represented in the final draft, both of the skeleton players would have had winning hands. The dealer, despite saying the quote, would have been the one with the most chips, the irony being that he’s saying this as a way to encourage the player despite being the one who is winning.

There were more details in my initial draft, like the skeletons having chains around their arms, the middle of the casino table having a pentagram, and the dealer having an “uncanny valley” look to him. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to include them due to both the water colors and the acrylic paint damping the details. I went for acrylic paint in the end as it made the colors stand out better than the water colors, but in doing so I lost many of the details that I wanted to have.

5. Elements of Art & Principles of Design

• Include and discuss the elements of art and principles of design that you utilized in your artwork.

The principle of design that I used in my painting would be variety, I tried to have the viewer jump from different points in my painting to take in and realize all the details that I wanted to include (like the chains on the skeletons, the cards reading “addicted,” pentagram, etc.) For the element of art, I utilized space as show with the point of view, make it seem like the viewer is the one playing and is looking onto the table.

Title: Gamblers Always Quit Before Hitting Big

Grade Level: 12

Class Period: 5

2. Social Issue Selection

The social issue that I chose would be gambling addiction. The reason why I chose this issue specifically would be because that it’s not as talked about, compared to other social issues. Gambling addiction is especially prevalent in current youth as many influences promote it through videos, livestreams, etc, despite being an incredibly dangerous addiction that harms everyone involved.

3. Artwork Explanation

My artwork represents the social issue through the cards being held in the main point of view that read out “Addicted” in form of playing cards. The two skeletons on the right and left side that are also “playing” reinforce the end result of the addiction. Finally, the dealer at the front says “gamblers always quit before hitting it big” usually said in a sarcastic/joking matter but sometimes used as an excuse to continue on with an off chance of winning.

4. Creation Strategy

I was going for a humor/satire strategy. Although not represented in the final draft, both of the skeleton players would have had winning hands. The dealer, despite saying the quote, would have been the one with the most chips, the irony being that he’s saying this as a way to encourage the player despite being the one who is winning.

There were more details in my initial draft, like the skeletons having chains around their arms, the middle of the casino table having a pentagram, and the dealer having an “uncanny valley” look to him. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to include them due to both the water colors and the acrylic paint damping the details. I went for acrylic paint in the end as it made the colors stand out better than the water colors, but in doing so I lost many of the details that I wanted to have.

5. Elements of Art & Principles of Design

• Include and discuss the elements of art and principles of design that you utilized in your artwork.

The principle of design that I used in my painting would be variety, I tried to have the viewer jump from different points in my painting to take in and realize all the details that I wanted to include (like the chains on the skeletons, the cards reading “addicted,” pentagram, etc.) For the element of art, I utilized space as show with the point of view, make it seem like the viewer is the one playing and is looking onto the table.

^{“The Last Hand”}

^{Grade 12, Period 4}

This covers the social issue of Gambling Addiction. This is important to me due to the number of people in my life consumed with gambling, and the degenerative behavior this habit produces.

My painting shows a person trapped by an Ace of Diamonds, sticking their arm out to try to get out. This demonstrates how gambling can consume someone, and how it’s not as easy as it seems to give up.

The Creation Strategy I chose to employ was Signs, Advertisements, and Posters, as the message being sent would fit well as an anti-gambling propaganda ad.

I used color and emphasis to give life to my painting.

Drugs=Bad

12th Grade

Period 6

My social issue I chose is Drug Abuse. I chose this social issue because drug abuse has caused many problems that people sometimes overlook especially the users who abuse drugs. This has been a problem for many years, causing damages to millions of people worldwide.

My art work represents drug abuse because it illustrates someone who is punching a pill which represents a punching bag. This shows that you don’t have to keep using drugs to solve problems . This shows a fight against drugs and punching them instead of using them.

I used humor/satire to create my work because it is humorous to see a pill be used as a punching bag. It shows irony also because many people would think of punching a punching bag instead of a pill.

I used line and color in my artwork . Color can be seen when distinguishing the contrast between a pill and a punching bag. Red and white to represent the pill. Line is represented when creating pretty much the entire art work . The hands , pill.

12th grade

Period 6

The social issue I chose is homeless. I chose it because when I drive through LA I see a bunch of homeless people. I feel like the government could do better to try to help people the people in need.

My art work represents homelessness because it illustrates someone who is sitting on the ground with roughed up clothing and is holding a poster of what he wants which is a home.

The strategy I used to create my work is a serious tone. Roughed up clothing, posters and some what dark.

An element of art I used was space.

•Natalie Lopez

•”End Gun Violence”

•12th Grade

•period 6

Social Issue Selection

The social issue that I selected was gun violence. The reason why I chose to do gun violence was because Gun violence is a huge thing in the US. It’s caused a lot of deaths meaning many people have lost loved ones. By focusing on gun violence I am raising awareness.

Art work Explanation

My artwork represents ending gun violence because I decided to draw a hand meaning “stop” and my words as well. I decided to do dark colors because I find it a way for people to wanna be up close to read something wether that information isn’t important to them they at least read it and gave it some sort of attention.

Creation Strategy

My strategy is signs,message and posters.

Elements Of Art & Principle design

I used dark colors on a dark

Color to make people interested in what it says. I also used a megaphone and hand to show it’s a message, I also spaced my words so it’s clearer to read.

“Money is the root of all evil”

12th Grade

Period 6

My social issue I decided to work on was inflation. I did inflation because it’s a major issue in our countries. As inflation rises people are starting to work longer and extra jobs just to make ends meet. When people work longer it cuts into to family time and increases stress levels.

My art work is representing inflation by showing how much our bills have increased. The US actually does have a real 1000 dollar bill but they were discontinued because of how low prices were. Now with prices sky rocketing I don’t doubt that they will return.

I used humor in my art work with the devil. The devil is supposed to represent the evil in the title. I used humor to exaggerate the extreme situation that we’re in.

I used multiple elements of art such as color and shape. I specifically chose the primary colors to be green and the shape to be a rectangle to replicate a dollar bill as much as possible. For the principle of design I used movement and balance in the art work. I made the devils tail in to a “s” shape to show that is swaying back and forward, for the balance I made the dark colors in the inside and the further you get from the center it brightens up more.

Don’t Chop

12

Period 6

The social issue I chose is deforestation and its impact on animals. I chose this topic because of the ongoing issues related to industrialization and urbanization. These developments are leading to the destruction of natural habitats, forcing animals to either adapt to new environments or face extinction. I believe it's important to raise awareness about how human activities are not only changing the planet but also putting countless animals in danger that rely on forests to survive. My artwork shows the deforestation through the cut stump, but also shows its impact on animals as the bird in the center is lying on the stump with no proper habitat. 

My artwork uses humor/satire and signs, advertisements, and posters. This can be seen through the axe and the helpless bird on the log, which shows how people often ignore the consequences of deforestation. The contrast between the innocent animal and the threatening object creates a message about the impact of human actions on wildlife. Additionally, the text at the top “Don’t Chop” serves as a clear, commanding statement much like a poster or a sign urging viewers to consider the damage caused by cutting down trees.

In my artwork, I used a lot of color to highlight the boldness and urgency of the issue. The vibrant color emphasizes the seriousness of deforestation’s impact on animals. The color, especially the red in the text, is supposed to represent blood. This harshness is supposed to elicit urgent emotions through the artwork showing the impact of death that deforestation can cause on wildlife. I also used unity to keep the composition visually connected and to make the bird sitting on the stump the focal point. Additionally, there is a slight use of movement created through the curved text and the blood that drips down, which guides the viewer’s eyes across the piece. 

A Parents Nightmare

11th grade

Period 2

Social Issue Selection - My social issue that I chose was malnutrition (mainly in children) because all over the world 149 million children under the age of 5 are affected by not having enough food. These children can get their growth stunted, suffer from illness, increased risk of disease, and even die. I chose it because I've found that many Americans take advantage of how fortunate they are as they have an abundance of food. This can lead to false assumptions about malnutrition and the belief that everyone in the world is fortunate with the food they have to eat.

Artwork Explanation - My painting consists of a plate that is split in half. One side of it is nice and full of food, the plate is clean and the family that has that plate clearly has more than enough food. The other side of the plate is cracked and dirty, it has mold on it as well as insects such as flies, worms and cockroaches. I was trying to contrast that abundance of food that the fortunate enjoy while some people have literally nothing to eat. The difference between the white plate and brownish green plate also helps with the visual contrast between the two sides. This piece represents malnutrition because some people have nothing while others have more than they need.

Creation Strategy - The strategy I chose to use was Satire, my painting while not being humorous it does use irony and exaggeration to critique the imbalance in how food is distributed around the world. The two sides of the plate, one pristine and one cracked and nasty show the contrast between well off and poor parts of the world. The distinct difference between the two sides prompts the viewer to reflect on food distribution around the world and how society has downplayed the struggle that many people around the world go through.

Elements of Art and Principle of designs - The most prominent element of art that is used in this painting is color because of the contrast between vibrant colors that the fresh food has and the nasty, dank, dull colors of the cracked plate and bugs. I also used space as the plates are cut in half to better represent the separation between people who have more than they need and those who are struggling. One of the principles of designs I used is the contrast between the fresh white plate and the nasty brown plate. I also used balance as one side of the plate is overflowing with food while the other doesn't have any on it. This represents the imbalance in food that plagues our world today.

Grade: 12

Period: 6

Social Issue: The social issue I chose for my project was animal testing in companies. I chose animal testing because it is an issue people have thankfully brought to light, but still continues to be an issue we see with big companies regardless of what has been done.

Artwork Explanation: My artwork represents the social issue by representing an animal being injured in multiple ways. These companies tend to test the animals on various parts of its body with their products to simulate if it is good for the human body. Despite how its done they use any part of the body necessary as shown in my painting. The bunny’s ear is injured along with its arm, and eye as well. I used the stuffed animal because it shows how inhumane it would be to do it to something that is seen as innocent or cute. An actual animal could be seen as a test subject and not for it is, which is a living being that feels just as much as we do.

Creation Strategies: The strategy I used for my project was signs, advertisements, and posters. It is used in my art as it represents a protest poster being against animal testing.

Elements of Art & Principles of Design: The elements of art used in my art work are texture and color. I used texture in the parts where the bunny is injured to make an emphasis at how brutal it is for these animals. The colors helped make everything more vivid, especially the black. I used the black to create a sort of fog around the bunny to make it pop out. The red in the lettering also made it stand out against the white, which I think made things more put together.

Title Do not deport my friends 

11th grade 

Period two

The social issue that I picked was mass deportation. The reason why I picked it is because I have a lot of family members that are immigrants and some of them had to hide from deportation or still hide from it. I also believe that the image I used  as reference has meaning, the image I picked was a kid at a protest about mass deportation, I believe that coming from a kid means so much more than an adult . The strategy I used was process/material in meaning, you can see it in the background a lot better. I printed the red cards with our rights on them in both English and Spanish because most of my friends and family have those cards. The elements of design I used was from with the cardboard being raised above the background and the principal of design I used was pattern

Process/Material in Meaning

What I'm trying to show While advanced technologies exist they are not universally available to everyone augments made a social divisions and creating a system where some have access and the others are just left behind and this future feels like it's getting closer by the day

My goal with this piece was to show how inflation affects everyone, especially when it comes to essentials like food. I chose apples and milk because they are common items most people buy regularly. By making them look playful and handmade, I wanted to contrast the seriousness of the message with a simple, almost childlike style. This helps make the issue more approachable while still pointing out how ridiculous it is that basic items can become so costly.

This project helped me better understand how art can be used to talk about economic and social issues. It’s not just about making something that looks good, but it’s also about sending a message. I learned that even with basic materials, I can create something that makes people stop and think. Inflation is a big topic, but somehow no one seems to mention it more often. Inflation is such a scary thing especially for people around my age who will someday be the people in charge. Things like Inflation are going to be hard to fix and it’s frightening to think we are left to deal with the consequences.

Title of Artwork: Take a Stand

Grade Level: 11th

Class Period:  4

The social issue I chose to represent was the sexual abuse young women face and the silence that comes with it. The silence surrounding speaking up on women’s experiences with sexual abuse surrounds the stigma that women should stay silent rather than speak up against the unfair, violent treatment some have faced. 

My artwork represents the chosen social issue through a metaphor that compares a woman's body to a chair. The woman depicted in my painting is essentially stuck to the chair to the point that she was one with it. The chair represents the desire to speak, but still feels tied to the stigma, either due to fear or guilt. The words along the borders of the painting help emphasize the importance of speaking up against sexual abuse. Much like the woman in the painting who cannot speak for herself, the outline of the painting illustrates a message for all young women regarding the importance of speaking up for ourselves during difficult times like these.  

The specific plan I used to create my work was signs and posters. I wanted to make my painting represent a poster looking to inspire change within communities. A change that speaks up against the unfair, violent acts committed against young girls and women. By using a poster-type approach, the feeling of community and united change feels much closer to home and allows the message to be evoked in a loud yet impactful way. Not only this, but by using a form of poster/sign, the message is conveyed in an attention-grabbing manner, much like an ad. Although it is not an ad or a billboard, my painting being used in a poster format enables interaction with viewers on a deeper level than a regular advertisement would. My poster/sign is designed to inspire hope and change for the young girls and women who struggle with speaking up against personal or second-hand experiences dealing with sexual acts of violence.

The Elements of Art and Principles of Design I used for my painting are color, line, and space. As for the principles of design, I chose to focus on Signs/Advertisements/Posters.

“Turn Down The Heat”

11th Grade

Period 2

The social issue I chose to bring awareness to with my painting was Global Warming. I chose this issue because it’s a problem that we ourselves are worsening. Most people seem to be aware of the problem, but don’t understand how severe it is and will get. If people continue to leave it alone as “it’ll only get bad by the time we’re dead after 100 years” or “one person can’t fix a global issue”, the world will be in a horrible state for future generations to live in and try to fix what’s already too late due to our dismissive attitudes.

My artwork represents global warming by depicting the Earth rising in temperature by creating a painting of the Earth in a stove pan. The hot sauce and seasoning being put on the Earth are labeled as “Forest Clearing” and “Fossil Fuel Burning” to say that these are causes of global warming that contribute to “cooking” the Earth and they are both human causes. I also drew and painted the hands in a way so that it would look like the painting is from the perspective viewer of the painting and is cooking the Earth and saying that we as humans are the main reason for global warming.

I used the strategy of humor/satire.

In my painting, I used the principle of emphasis in my painting. My painting has the main point of my art, the Earth, in the center and as the biggest piece in the painting. This helps the viewer understand that even either the stove, pan, and hands, they’ll understand what my piece is about at first glance. After seeing the main point, they can look around the center and see the stove it’s being cooked on emphasizing the Earth heating up, my social issue, and the seasoning containers that are labeled as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation which are worsening global warming caused by the human hands holding them.

'The Rich and the Poor'

Grade 11

Period 1

The social reason I chose was poverty, as today more and more people are ending up on the streets with little money. They are left to beg for money as no jobs will accept them in the state they are in. This leads to them being stuck in the cycle of poverty, struggling for a single meal everyday, meanwhile the rich get to go on living their lavish lifestyles by buying all the extravagant items that catch their eye. While doing this, they turn a blind eye towards those in poverty, preferring to act like they aren't even there, and when they do acknowledge them, they give the smallest amount that they can, not solving anything while they stay richer.

My artwork depicts two halves, the bottom representing the poverty stricken side and the top showing the 'well-off' in money side. The poverty half is represented through a beat up sign, which is begging for money and a empty can of soup, showing how those in poverty have little for food. The 'well-off' side is represented through nice clothing and nice shoes that are considered expensive, such as leather shoes and Nikes, as well as nice bikes ride to around on. On the business man, money signs can be seen on their socks, which is meant to further convey that they have money, and are not in any dire need for it. They can be seen dropping pocket change for the poverty half, which represents how even though the rich and those with money have it to spend on accessories, they barely offer up for those in true need of it. They often only give up the minimal amount, which will never solve the issue of poverty, as those in poverty have nothing to do with the little amount given except hope it's enough for their next meal. Meanwhile, they boy on the bike who bikes by like nothing is wrong shows how seeing those in poverty has become a normal thing in society, and how eventually that boy will grow up and also turn a blind eye towards those in poverty.

In my work, I used signs to help convey my message. On the sign, it is seen that the poverty half is begging for money to buy food, and through the ripped and soiled state of the sign, it can be seen that they have been doing this for while, but are still stuck in the same position.

The elements of art I used in my work are color and line, using bright colors on the well-off side to show that they have new, fresh things to spend money on. I used line to separate the two halves while still having it seem like a sidewalk and have the well-off people walk by the poverty side. I also used line to show the change being dropped towards the poverty half. In my work, I use movement, shown through the people moving, as you see their shadows coming down as they stop, walking straight past the poverty half like they aren't even there, as well as the dropping of the change. I also include variety, with the difference of what each person has, such as the businessman with the suit pants and briefcase, the schoolkid with the Nikes and bag, and the boy riding the bike. Each have different colors and designs to them, showing off how each live a different but still well off lifestyle compared to those in poverty who go through the same struggles day after day.

Everyone’s a Scholar

Grade: 12

Period: 2

1. I chose to do this topic since it’s a topic that has been talked about a lot especially now since there is a lot of talk about education for specific groups of people if whether they should have education or not. Education should be given to everyone and not thought about since education is important for the mind and gives us knowledge and intelligence. Although people may not like school, we should think about how lucky we are to have these resources and education provided to us.

2. My artwork represents the topic a whole lot. We could see that it’s a school and a school bus and surrounded are signs in which is showing that everyone should have these provided to them. It also shows about how we have to make schools safe since it’s a safe environment for a lot of people.

3. The strategy that I used was signs, advertisements, and posters since words used in pictures could also show a meaning and it helps represent what the topic is about.

4. The elements of art that I used were color, value, and shape. Colors were used such as yellow for the bus, beige for the school, red for the roof & bus sign, and blue for the sky & windows. Value was used a bit to color some of the things such as the sky. Shapes were used a lot, especially to cut the house, bus, and signs.

Homelessness

12th Grade

Period 3

2. The social issue I chose is homelessness. I picked this issue because I see it in real life and on the news, and it really affects me. A lot of people are struggling without basic needs like shelter, food, and safety. I wanted to create something that shows how serious this problem is and how often it gets ignored by others.

3. My artwork shows a person wearing an orange hoodie sitting alone with a sign that says "HELP NEEDED." They look tired and sad. Above them, the words "NO COINS!" are written, showing how people often pass by without offering help. The dark colors around the person show how difficult their situation is, while the bright background makes them stand out. I wanted people to notice them and think about what they’re going through.

4. I used the strategy of signs, advertisements, and posters. I made the sign in the person’s hands big and bold, just like a real street sign, to get people’s attention. The words "HELP NEEDED" and "NO COINS!" are simple but strong. This strategy helped me show the message clearly and make people stop and think.

5. I used color to show emotion. The bright orange hoodie stands out against the dark background, making the person the main focus. The blue and yellow in the background add contrast and mood. I used strong lines to outline the shapes and give the art a bold look. The contrast between light and dark makes the person and the sign really pop. I also used space to make the figure look alone and isolated, which helps show their struggle.

   
   

The creation strategy I used was Imposed vs Implied Identity because you can interpret this piece in many ways. By using contrast to highlight the Daisies they become the main focus of the piece and catch the viewers eye. If unaware of the meaning of this painting the viewer could come up with their own narrative of what this means to them and give this piece a new meaning. Some events that inspired me to make this piece were the Bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Pearl Harbor, and the Blitz. Although these historical events had a huge impact on the world it may seem hard to understand the severity of them because of how long ago they were, but there's wars going on all over the world right now! It's important to understand the past to prevent them from happening again, yes, but we shouldn't let ourselves forget that this violence is affecting civilians today in places like Syria, Ukraine and Iran. Although it may seem like there's nothing we can do, we can listen to civilians experiences and know how these wars started, usually by hate. It's important we don't spread hate and instead preach World Peace and Unity because hate is a disease that has a severe impact, hate is a bomb.

Title of Artwork:Get Out

Grade Level:12

Class Period:6

2.The social issue I chose to focus on is religious trauma, specifically trying to break free from the pressure of pursuing religion based on those arround you.I chose this issue as it is something I find myself surrounded in, I have many people arround me tell me they're experiences with religion and how it has impacted them in negative ways.Arround the world aswell, countless people are forced into certain religions shaping beliefs arround them, in which some cases these beliefs can be forced onto people who do not wish to follow the same path but have no other choice but to.

3.My artwork depicts someone who is rippi g themselves apart in order to break free and tear from what is inside of them. Iside is a cross, symbol of religion known world wide, one the person in the painting wants to break free from.

4.I used identity vs.

imposed identity as this painting represents the idea of being part of a certain ground while it something your truly not.

5.The elemenst of Artwork used are space,color and for the principleof design I focused on contrast. In this painting I wanted to implement a strong contrast which I achived by using orange with a black background.

Title: Police Brutality

Grade: 11th

Period: 2

• Chosen Social Issue and why: Thr social issue I chose was Police brutality. I chose it because there is a lot of violence being caused by the abusive power from the police that isn't being justfied or become an issue that should be stopped. There are many cases of this happening and nothing is done to stop it and they just continue to occur.

• Artwork explanation: My artwork shows the social issue I chose because it includes a police badge, hands, and a city behind it. The police badge in the center is covered in blood from the innocent people that they have arrested and used unnecessary violence towards them. The hands covored with bruised and blood are the innocent people and they are shown to be reaching out towards the police badge because they are asking for mercy and for compassions towards the unfairness of the situation that they're facing. The city in the background represents the setting of where most of these cases occur because they mostly occur in cities rather than rural or sub-urban areas.

• Creation Strategy: The strategy that I used to create my artwork was Process/Material in Meaning to show how each element in the artwork and the materials used have a meaning towards the composition of the artwork.

• Elements and Principles used: The elements I used were shape to show the different sizes of the buildings and color to show different shades of dark colors and light colors that I used on my artwork. The principles of design that I used were unity because all of the components that were put into the art all work together and show what the artwork is trying to show.

Everyday Danger

10th Grade

Period 3

Social Issue:

Although rarely talked about or seen as a big deal, stalking can become a serious threat when disregarded or ignored. Around one in 3 women suffer from stalking during their lifetimes, making it a highly important issue whose effects are felt by a large number of people. Even when it doesn’t end in tragedy, stalking has serious negative consequences for the victims’ mental health such as severe paranoia, permanent anxiety disorders, and depression. These untold impacts and the magnitude of the victims affected by this issue inspired me to chose it and demonstrate how the victims could be anyone.

Artwork Explanation:

My artwork represents the chosen social issue because it sets a scenario of three women being followed by an intimidating yet nondescript figure. This is a scenario of stalking, which directly represents the issue. However, in order to give a face to the statistic that one in three women are stalked, one of the three are circled. This is a manifestation of the statistic and inspires observers to make real life connections.

Creation Strategy:

For this artwork, I used signage in order to communicate danger. I specifically chose a font with lettering commonly associated with thrillers or horror movies in order to give the words visual meaning as well as literal. Even from afar someone could tell that the artwork deals with fear or something unnatural due to the signage, which I accentuated by choosing the color red. This is also typically associated with warning or danger, so it seemed fitting for the subject matter.

Elements of Art & Principles of Design:

I utilized color (elements of art) and emphasis (principles of design) in order to communicate my message. As mentioned previously, I used red for the signage to indicate danger. This accentuates the meaning. I also purposefully chose dark colors, utilizing value, in order to create a tense and gloomy atmosphere. As for principles of design, using emphasis by circling one of the three women in red is a way of sending the message that the statistic 1 in 3 is a person who has a face and a story. By circling her in red, it gives a foreboding air to what appears to be three girls on a night out. This is a way of using color/value to communicate tone and emphasis to tell a story.

Title: Pangea

Grade: 12th

Period: 3

• A social issue that I chose is World Peace. The reason why I chose it is because as a kid I'd always wonder why the world couldn’t just come together and be “friends.” Like any kid, I had no idea what was actually going on in the real world: war, politics, violence, different ideas, power, money, etc. Growing up, I slowly started to realize why the world was separated; However I still have a childish heart and continue to wonder why. Why can’t we just evolve? Why can’t we be like a huge colony of ants working together to help the colony and each other? When will we realize that we’d be stronger together as one?

• My artwork shows all 7 continents (Asia, North and south America, Africa, Europe, Antarctica, and Australia) being one big continent, AKA Pangea (a historic supercontinent). And the 7 continents are tied by a golden yarn. All 7 continents together shows how when they are bigger and stronger united. The golden yarn symbolizes peace and unity.

• The strategy that I used is Process/Material in Meaning because I'm using the materials used to create the continents and putting it back together like a puzzle which creates meaning.

• The Elements that I used were shape and color; Shape being the cut out of the 7 continents and color being the different colors that I used for each continent. I used different colors to make each continent easily recognizable and to show how different parts of the world can be capable of being united.

“No”

12th

P.2

2. I chose to advocate for Sexual Assault/Abuse because it’s a heartbreaking issue that affects people all over the world. Many individuals experience sexual assault at school, at work, or even from people they trust, like family and friends. It’s painful to know that so many victims feel forced to choose between speaking out and risking their lives being torn apart, or staying silent to avoid retaliation, especially when abusers hold significant power. Through my artwork I hope that victims feel comfortable, confident to speak out, and know that their voice matters.

3. My artwork represents the voice of the victim. The artwork depicts the victim's initial 'NO' as large and densely packed, symbolizing the strength and conviction of their refusal. As the word descends and becomes more spaced out and smaller, it represents how the victim's voice is gradually diminished and ignored. By the time it reaches the abuser, the 'NO' is reduced to a tiny whisper, illustrating how the abuser disregards and silences the victim's boundaries. Portraying how victims of sexual assault or abuse often face challenges in being heard or believed. Initially, they might express a clear and strong "no," but over time, their voice can be diminished by factors such as manipulation, power imbalances, or societal pressures. This can result in their refusal being ignored or minimized by the abuser and even by others around them, leading to further trauma and a sense of helplessness.

4. The strategy used in my artwork is signs, advertisements, and posters because it uses words and visual representation to convey a message about consent and the diminishing voice of the victim.  It’s direct text and image communicate a clear message to an audience.

5. Elements of Art:

   Shape: The shapes of the letters and the figure contribute to the overall composition. The varying sizes and arrangements of the shapes create visual interest and hierarchy.

   Value: The contrast between the dark red text and the light gray background helps to emphasize certain words or elements, drawing the viewer's attention.

   Space: The placement of the words, from the words being super scrunched at the top and slowly spreading out towards the bottom emphasizes the meanings of the word. The empty background forces the audience to place their eyes on the words.

6. Principles of Design:

   Emphasis: The varying sizes, dark red, and the 3-D word "NO", place emphasis, drawing the viewer's attention to the word so that it sticks with them and they don’t forget the word. The color of the victim being fully white represents their innocence while the smaller abuser at the bottom is dark gray to show their evil and hidden intentions.

   Proportion: The varying sizes of the word "NO" symbolize the diminishing voice of the victim.

   Movement : Movement was my choice of the principle of design and I used it in this artwork through the repetition of the word "NO" in different sizes and styles to guide the viewers eyes from the top (victim)to the bottom (the abuser’s location).

Title: Childhood Inflation

12th grade

Period 2

1. I chose to reference inflation and price raises in my painting because of the fact that something as small as the food I loved and enjoyed as a child has been increased by 30% in price. The price of resources in our economy are going up, while the middle and lower classes aren’t making additional money to allow citizens to be competitive with the inflation rate.

2. My artwork shows the price of the same meal over 4 years revealing an increase in price from 2020 to 2024 by 30%. The clear definition of the price raises shows that inflation has hit hit cheap fast food restaurants too like Popeyes for instance making food too expensive for consumers to purchase regularly

3. My strategy for defining the price increase was by using a side by side comparison between the price of a meal over 4 years. The differences between the prices over time reveals a ying and yang contrast which develops my idea further.

4. I relied on color and contrast heavily to express my interest in my particular choice of activism in this project. Color used to project the brightness of the Popeyes franchise and contrast to show the difference between the two prices over time. I also used the same color for both sides of the painting to reveal that the amount of food you received in that specific meal stayed the same over the 4 years while the price changed showing us the true contrast.

11th Grade

Period 2

“Health not Wealth”

The social issue of my choice was health care disparities, especially for families of color. Healthcare disparities refer to the differences in access to medical facilities and services between various population groups. As a hispanic teenager, the conversation of proper healthcare resources has been up in the air for a while in subsequence to President Trumps Project 2025. The conflict has brought my attention closer to the topic, which is where I further educated myself and found out that African American and Hispanic families receive worse care at a quality rate of 43% less than white families. As someone with a growing passion for pursuing a career in

health care, I am truly passionate about this topic and it only makes me even more eager to make a difference and become the representative I wished my relatives had when they needed assistance. While neglect in the health care system wasn’t enough, the prices have drastically increased and the eligibility requirements for healthcare insurance has only gotten more tedious. Due to the high cost of necessary treatments, families often put off getting said treatments or fear going to hospitals in the first place. Majority of the time the healthcare system is only scamming families out of money because they take advantage of their vulnerability during life or death situations. Health care quality should not depend based off race nor financial status. No human should avoid hospital visits or treatments in fear of not properly getting assisted or being left in mountains of debt.

My reasoning reflects upon my painting. My painting consists of a colored individuals hand placing a coin, which resembles money, onto a white individuals palm. The lettering reads, “Health not Wealth” which is intended to signify that the first priority of medical workers should be to treat patients with their full ability, not based off their race or financial status. Health care should not have to be something that is a privilege but rather something that is given. Hospitals should prioritize taking care of their patients and realize they are humans, not paychecks.

The strategy that I used was posters/signs to advocate my social issue. I believed this way was most effective because it would be able to reach a target audience displaying a clear direct message without any hidden message or humorous content to take away from the truth. Some of the Elements of art & principles of design that I employed in my artwork were color and space. I believe that the missing detail around the hands only brings more attention to the words. Without creating too difficult of a piece to look at, I believe that the space is the silent emphasis on the meaning behind the poster.

Title: Not A Criminal

Grade: 11th

Per. 2

Chosen Social Issue and Why:

The social issue that I chose was wrongful deportation. I chose this social issue because it is something that has been happening more recently as our current president is making laws more strict. There are many cases of families being broken apart just because someone was an immigrant who came here. Whether it be legally or illegally, immigrants are being taken away from their families or the entire families go with them. It's a tragic case as most of these immigrants came just to create a better life for them and their family. Another reason I chose this social issue is because I myself, and many of my friends are children of immigrants and so the fear to leave or lose someone is strong and is why this needs to be changed.

Art Work Explanation:

My artwork shows my social issue in the way that we see a man being taken away from his family through handcuffs. He passes the border as we only see his wife and child in the background. Furthermore we see statues of a marriage ring and pacifier that are breaking in the background to show that his world is literally falling apart as he is losing everything he ever had before he was taken away. Finally for this painting we are seeing everything through the man's eyes as his vision blurs (hence the darker shades) around the corners as he can't comprehend that he is truly being taken away from everything he ever loved. All of this shows how it might feel to be deported with family and your entire life being left behind.

Art Strategy:

For this artwork, I main used identity vs imposed identity as I show what it might be like to be wrongfully deported. By putting the perspective of a man in handcuffs at the border, I can give viewers a perspective of what it might truly feel as I show the person's world crumbling before his eyes. Another art strategy I use is symbols as I show the cuffs that take away and deport the person, and the ring and pacifier statues that are crumbling in the background to show how the person's world is falling apart as his new reality is being unveiled.

Elements and Principles:

For the elements, I main used color and value to show the view/perspective of the person that is being wrongfully deported. By incorporating darker and darker hues and shades, it gives the sense that the main person can't comprehend what's happening and is causing his vision to become blurry. Another element that amplifies the color is the use of space as it gives the impression that the family is too far to be seen and gives the impression that the statues in the background are massive.

As for main principles, I used balance and emphasis to create an asymmetrical scenery that directs the viewer to the middle and to the corners of the painting. But the main principal that I wanted to highlight was movement as I tried to achieve a look of a blurry movement in the corners by using darker shades and lines to create illusion that we are the person being taken away and the dark hues are our vision as we get taken back.

"The Dying Fire"

Grade 11

Period 4

The social issue highlighted is gentrification. My inspiration to do this social issue, was the gentrification happening in my neighborhood, district, and my own city in Oaxaca, Mexico. Everywhere I turn is modernization and reconstruction. My memories of my neighborhood and places around me, being destroyed and remodeled in a way people see fit. Or remodeled to “not stand out.” A lot of expensive reconstruction has been going on in Oaxaca, Mexico. It’s so expensive that people who have lived there for decades are forced to leave due to not being able to afford an “upgrade” they didn’t ask for. Gentrification isn’t a local issue, and isn’t exclusive to just the U.S.. This piece highlights the social issue in other nations, especially due to the growing popularity in tourism. So much reconstruction is going on simply to make them comfortable, at the expense of those who already lived there. The reconstruction going on does nothing but wash out the pre-existing culture developed thousands of years before those tourists even stepped foot on the land. This washing out of culture is not only gentrifying the neighborhoods, but the people too. The thousands of indigenous folk that have lived their for centuries, are having their land trampled on and destroyed, just to be remade in a way tourists see fit. Losing their originality and exclusivity just to please the majority, and that is not fair in the slightest to the Natives.

I used the flash of white in my art to depict the washing out of culture, and the loss of originality that comes with it. The white is meant to represent the gentrification flooding their houses, slowly replacing the things they knew. I drew an indigenous woman, walking through the streets of Oaxaca, walking next to a vendor and buildings, while the area behind her slowly fades to white, depicting that loss of color that comes with unicultures, and gentrification.

I used the strategy of Identity vs. Imposed Identity. A reason I think it works so well is because the usual representation of Oaxaca, and other cities like it, depict a poor looking city, with peeling paint and empty, bland looking buildings. But Oaxaca is such a vibrant, colorful city with a radiant culture that wakes every ounce of excitement in your body. That notion of gentrification is often accompanied by the argument of “upgrading”, or “remodling”. But these “upgrades” are upgrades people didn’t ask for, instead it came from the takeover of tourism that forced cities to modernize to ease the issues they brought. That forces the depletion of culture that these torists didn’t understand.

I used contrast as one of my leading principles of design, to highlight the differences caused by gentrification and modernization. I used white to contrast with the color in the painting, due to how much incomplete gentrification stands out, and how much color is lost when it happens.

2)The social issue I chose for my painting was the tariffs Trump is currently introducing to the US. After hearing about the tariffs Trump is imposing on other countries, with 145% being the highest in China. Hearing this made me very worried, as it would increase the prices of goods imported from China. Knowing that a significant portion of US goods come from China, I am concerned that prices would rise to great lengths.  Coming from a middle-class family, when goods start to rise in prices on everyday items, many won’t be able to afford it, even though they may be everyday necessities. This will not only affect the middle class but also will greatly affect the lower classes' ability to afford house appliances, everyday food, and enjoyment. 

3) I would say my artwork represents my social issue in many ways; however, I do think that I could’ve executed it a lot better. In my painting the main focus of it is the self and what is on the self. For this idea, I wanted to use the self to symbolize the struggles with the prices of the food and overall items we buy. On the self there are three rows. The first row is empty with one can and spider webs around it to show that the self is no longer there and is something everyone would grab from. The sign shows a 0% to show how the self would be treated before the tariffs. The second and third selves represent a new self that is coming from the tariffs. This self is full of cans of food that are being introduced with a 145% tariff to represent the tariff from China, as we get a lot of imported goods from there. While this, a graph is going across the self to represent the increase in prices. 

4) I would say that I am using humor and satire in my painting. A goal for my painting was to have some humor towards it with the drawing and the material used. I would say having the funny-looking things on the bottom self as well as using the orange cardboard box in the back was a way to bring that satire in; however, I do not think I expressed it very well in my painting. I also tried to add the flies around the empty self to further add onto the humor and satire of the painting. Overall I feel like I could’ve definitely improved on making it more clear.

5) In my painting, I used emphasis as the main focal point in the self. Looking at the sides of the self really gives it that cool blended look, which helps focus the person's attention and emphasis on the work being shown. I also think that the red graph going through the painting also adds to the principle of design. For my main element of art I would say I used line the most. Looking at my painting line is being used everywhere, to the self, the graph, and the items; the line is present in the painting, which gives it its purpose of it. Having the line as my main element really shows how things were semi perfect/ straight before the tariffs hit the US. I would also say that space is another element I used as there's a lot. This goes back to the use of humor, I thought about the empty space being the empty promises that were made for the hope of prices to reduce, however, people had high standards, which led to high prices.

Title: Gender Inequality

Grade: 12

Period: 1

2.  I chose this social issue because it's a problem that affects millions of people and it limits the opportunities based on gender. By choosing this issue it helps people understand the importance of equal rights and helps schools, jobs, and the community be more fair for everyone. 

3. I think my artwork represents the social issue because it shows how women do the work, but men get the praise. The men are shown standing on platforms being held up by women, while the women look tired and unhappy because they carry more weight and work harder being the scenes often without given appreciation or equal rewards. 

4. Specific strategy I used to create my work in signs would be using a clear visual symbol like the medals around the men and the body position catches the viewer's eye and helps understand the message. 

5. The element of art I utilized was value to help create a focus and contrast, as the colors are solid and dark with a light background. The principle of design that helped me utilized the painting was movement as your eye naturally moves from bottom to top it tells the story visually. 

A Cry for Help

10th Grade

Period 3

The social issue I chose for this project is the extinction of endangered species. I chose to make a piece of art for this topic because I was interested in learning more about what the main causes are for the endangerment of animals, and how deep our current issues with climate change really go.

My artwork shows the social issue of the endangerment of species because in my painting I have four baby birds in a nest and they are all crying, which is supposed to symbolize fragility of life and make the viewer of this painting think about the lives of many endangered species.

The strategy I used to create my artwork was satire because I was going to replace the twigs of the nest the birds are in with plastic straws, looking excessive and even a little unrealistic, to drive the point that this is a serious issue. What is shown in the image is an unfinished piece of art, showing how we are also running out of time to fix our world’s problems of climate change and extinction rates.

The elements of art most prominent in my work are color, as the birds are very vibrant and so is the background. I also used space to center my birds into being the main focus of the painting, and shape, to make them all together, separate from the rest of the painting almost.

Principles of design I utilized in my artwork are emphasis, contrast, and movement. In this painting, emphasis and contrast go hand in hand, because the birds are in contrast with the brightness of the background, making them pop out and be emphasized. This painting also shows movement because when you look at this painting there are so many different shapes that the viewer’s eyes are never in one place and move around the birds and trees.

School Angels

11th

Period 2

The social issue I chose is gun violence amongst children in schools. I chose this issue because it is very serious. No one goes to school and expects something bad to happen. Children go to school to learn and be in a good safe environment. But unfortunately there have been many times where this isn’t the case. Especially this year our school had a school shooting threat. This is a serious matter and schools should be prepared for anything and everything. 

My artwork represents this social issue with the school in the center. Above the school on the side there are angels to represent the children that died in a school shooting. Also above the school is the words “We send them to learn, not to die.” This saying is very to the point. It is true parents send them to school to learn and study in a safe environment and not to lose their lives or put their lives in danger. 

The strategy I used is signs, advertisements, posters to spread awareness to the issue. 

In my artwork I mainly used two elements of design, line and color.

Title: No Pride in Prejudice

Grade: 12

Period: 2

The social issue I chose was discrimination and the reason I chose this issue was because my parents would tell me stories about how they grew up and how they were very often mistreated heavily or straight up scammed after working hard for something because of their race or the language they spoke. They would tell me all these stories and I would listen in disbelief because it’s crazy to me how people can sleep at night after being so horrible to others. My artwork represents discrimination through the use of humor, playing off of a popular meme that’s been going around. Majority of these memes say that “The Lion doesn’t…” or “The Lion does…,” with the lion sort of representing a cool guy and what a cool person would or wouldn’t do. With that said, my painting plays off of that by saying “The lion doesn’t discriminate,” which is like saying that cool people don’t discriminate so be a cool person and don’t do it. The special strategy I chose was humor, playing off of the meme I mentioned, and the element of art that I used the most is space. All the space I left around the lion and the text helps draw focus to the main part of the painting and I feel like it helps emphasize the message.

Title: To dream is to achieve

Grade: 12th

Class per: 4th

Social Issue:

The social Issue I chose was immigration. The reason as to why, is because as someone who is daughter of two immigrants, I see how much my parents work hard to give me and my siblings a better life. Every so called “illegal alien” are hard workers and put in the effort everyday to make a decent living. With our current situation, deportation is an ongoing thing everyday, and it’s devastating to see my people get taken away just because of the language and color of skin. Not only that, but for that reason racism and discrimination and judging is SO normalized. As someone who has gotten told to speak English in America because this is an “English only” country is so discomforting because America is supposed to be a country where people are supposed to treat one another with equality and respect.

This poster is to speak and show on how both countries should be WITH one another not AGAINST. With the flower to symbolize peace and love. This poster is to also tell how no immigrant is illegal for wanting to be in a country to make a better future not only for them but also their creations they put into this world (their kids).

Creation Strategy: The creation strategy I used for this project was poster/sign to speak up about this problem. Even though I could’ve chose to paint something to really show what I mean, I decided to make this like a poster because it should be something to be spoken about a lot more. Many don’t really have the courage to speak up but creating a poster of some sort can make one’s opinion/voice seen.

The elements of art that I used for this project is color. I used the color purple to make both America and the state of Mexico tied together, because as I mentioned both countries should be united and together and not against each other. I chose that bright purple to make both pop out as one whole and not two separate countries. Also on the flower, I used the color pink for it to show that we should have more peace since that’s what a flower would also symbolize.

Title Of Artwork: We're All Immigrants

Grade Level: 11th

Class Period: 4th

Social Issue Selection

The social Issue I chose was immigration.

Reason

I chose immigration as my social issue to highlight the perspective that people have on immigrants, perspectives such as discrimination for example the term like "aliens" that discriminates against immigrants.

Art Explanation

My artwork has the phrase "We're All Immigrants" painted above and on the earth. I also painted human figures surrounding the earth to symbolize human unity. I decided to include a small painting of a UFO to reference the use of the word aliens to describe immigrants referencing Donald Trump. By painting a UFO I highlight the exaggeration of the word aliens.

Creation Strategy

Human/Satire

Satire to highlight the use of the word "aliens".

Elements and Principles of design

Color, Line, Shape, and Symbolism.

Balance, Unity, and Emphasis

This artwork is a portrait of my Grandpa after he got surgery on his knees. He worked as a truck driver and would be driving extremely long hours and for 30 years. This took a toll on his knees from always being sitting down. Once he was unable to walk he had to get surgery. His trucking company didn’t give him money for this surgery and my whole family had to pitch in for his surgery.

I used identity/ imposed identity for this artwork using my grandpa as a real life example of this.

The elements of art I used were color, and emphasis. The color is used by showing what he’s wearing, his movement helped and the white space in the background is putting emphasis on him and how an injury is only effecting him and not his company.

Name: Samuel Trieu

Title of Artwork: Control

Grade Level: 12 Grade

Class Period: Period 6

2. Social Issue Selection Identify the social issue you chose and explain your reasoning for selecting it. 

The social issue I chose is social media addiction. I chose this issue because it is one of the most prevalent and also unknown issues in our lives because many don’t perceive it as one and the damaging mental health effects such as anxiety and depression. I chose this issue because I was one who was addicted to this for years and I would spend hours scrolling and it was until I finally quit that I finally realized how controlled I was which prompted me to advocate for this issue because I see people around me battling this addiction and suffering because of it. Many young children are exposed to these platforms and end up being hooked from a young age and end up running their mental health, focus, and attention spans and if I don’t speak about this issue I feel like I would be doing a disservice to the people around me. Social media addiction is real and I hoped convey this message through my art.

3. Artwork Explanation Describe how your artwork represents the chosen social issue. 

My artwork represents the chosen social issue because of the firm grip social media addiction plays in our society with people losing hours and days worth of time sucked into their phones. This is represented by the hand controlling the stick figure (representing us) against our own will and the dark background represents the soulless feeling after wasting time chasing dopamine for hours. I wanted to make the hand controlling the figure because it represents the silent control these apps have on our lives and how it ruins our ability to be present and our mental health. The words “Break The Cycle” is a call to action for viewers to question their habits and also break free of this addiction.

4. Creation Strategy Specify the strategy you used to create your work. Choose from the following: Identity vs. Imposed Identity Humor/Satire Process/Material in Meaning Signs, Advertisements, Posters

The creation strategy that I employed to create my work was the strategy of using signs, advertisements, and posters. My artwork reflects a poster with the huge text and the simple imagery like the stick figure with a clear message of calling to action for people to break the cycle of social media addiction and end the firm grip it has on us. 

5. Elements of Art & Principles of Design Include and discuss the elements of art and principles of design that you utilized in your artwork.

The elements of art I utilized were color to contrast the white hand with the dark background, line with the red lines stemming from the fingers, and the principle of design emphasis with the spot light to place emphasis on the stick figure in the middle.

Trapped in a Cell

12th Grade

Period 4

1. The social issue I chose was the addiction to phones/ social media that an increasing number of people grapple with in today’s digital world. Compulsive phone usage leads to anxiety, decreased attention span, and stress. I chose this issue because I recognize that I, and many people I know, spend far too much time on my phone, and that when I spend less time on it, I am more productive and feel less stress and anxiety. 

2. My painting depicts a person standing behind bars that resemble a jail cell but inside of a cell phone. I hoped to represent how people could feel trapped or burdened by an addiction to their phone and the constant need to check it. 

3. I would classify my painting as a sign/poster. 

4. I used exclusively black, white, and brown in my painting to create a bleak and drab tone for the work. I used only simple shapes to create the person in the middle of the frame and avoided detail to create an anonymous figure that the viewer can impose themselves onto. I used symmetry by framing the person in the middle of the painting, enveloped by the black bars around them. I also used a contrast of color between the darker background and the brownish color of the person's suit. 

Title of artwork: Awareness

Grade Level: 12

Class Period: 1st

1. social issue: I chose Violence against Women and Girls for my social issue because, 1 in 3 women worldwide experience physical or sexual abuse including rape, harassment, and assault even in relationships.

2. Artwork: My artwork has a red background with cutouts of women to represent the fear that women live in today. The painting has pink blood splatter to associate femininity. In the middle of my painting I added a hand playing with object including a heel, lipstick, a Barbie head, a dress, and a pacifier.

3. A strategy I used was cutting out newspapers as well as head story’s of women and girls going through domestic abuse. I then added words I believed associate with my topic including “Battle”, “Herself”, and “Faith”.

4. I used texture and color for my elements of art. Because I used newspaper and paint, it created a texture on the surface that you can see in my work. You can also see many types of colors including red, pink, blue, purple and more in my art piece.

TITLE: Women’s Rights

GRADE LEVEL: 12

CLASS PERIOD: 3rd

SOCIAL ISSUE:

I had chose women’s right because sadly it’s still an ongoing thing that still needs to e ádrese. For years women are continuing to fight for basics human rights. Especially today with so many new restrictions being placed on women’s heath.

ARTWORK:

My Artwork has “mini” protest poster all glued to another. for the whole thing I had used a paint along with cardboard. Which is often used to make the protest signs.

CREATION STRATEGY:

My strategy, was kinda of a collage like strategy. I used many pieces of card board to make into one big piece of art. I wanted my piece to be loud and i thought why not make it big.

ELEMENTS OF ART & PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

For my icee i had used a lot of color and some shape to it. For the posters and for the body of my image i had used color Mainly different shades of pink, purple and blue. I had used the shape for my posters and for the big circle in the middle.

Title of Painting:Two Boxes

Grade 11 Period 3

Social Issue:

1.My social issue is on gang violence. Gang violence can influence the youth to join a gang. This would later on cause issues for the person in the future. This would lead to them not being able to get a job because of their record and criminal life. Leading them into poverty because of their actions and more. Gang violence has been having a big impact on today’s criminal activity from murders to assaults. I’ve seen this issue in my family as most of my uncles and older cousins were apart of a gang in their youth.

2.My painting shows two options of punishment of gang violence. First is a coffin depicting death for the person from a shooting or being murdered. Second option is a jail cell where the person would spent the rest of their lives in prison as the consequence.

3. I would consider my painting as a sign/poster

4.For my painting I exclusively used white and black coloring. Most concisely using line the element of art