5×7 art show ‘knocks it out of the park’
Patrons buy all of this year’s pieces in under 90 minutes
Customers examine a wall of artwork during the gallery show. This year’s assortment of pieces sold out an hour and a half into the show, causing volunteers to bring out previous years’ work to fill the space. “A lot of people were looking forward to being able to attend this year,” volunteer Andre Joseph said. “The results speak for themselves.”
December 18, 2021
The visual arts program put on its annual 5×7 gallery-show fundraiser on the night of Dec. 2 in the McCallum Arts Center exhibit space. Volunteers from the National Art Honor Society ran the show and stocked it with donated pieces supplied by the art classes—including work from students in printmaking, painting, drawing and digital arts. A large crowd quickly gathered to explore the display and shop the art pieces.
Junior Vaughn Vandegrift, who is new to McCallum this school year, enjoyed the opportunity to experience the art community firsthand.
“I wanted to see what kind of inspiration my peers had,” Vandegrift said. “I go to an art school so I want to take advantage of the art.”
Senior Caroline Allen volunteered at the show. Allen’s job was to hang up 5×7 pieces on the displays and to keep them stocked with art while the sale went on.
“It was great,” Allen said. “The customers did not disappoint!”
Allen attributes this year’s success to the quality of the art pieces and the hard work put in by the art students.
“I think we’ve just got some really creative and talented artists this year.”
The entire collection of this year’s pieces were purchased an hour and a half into the show, meaning the program was able to put out leftover pieces from previous years to sell.
Senior Andre Joseph, another Art Society volunteer at the event, also helped to refill empty spaces with artwork. This was his first experience with the 5×7 gallery show on account of the notable lack of a show last year due to the pandemic.
“We knocked it out of the park,” Joseph said. “I think a lot of people were looking forward to being able to attend this year, and the results speak for themselves.”
Although acquiring Art Society volunteer hours did provide some incentive for both Allen and Joseph to help out, the show also offered an opportunity to connect with fellow Mac students.
“I enjoy interacting with and being involved with the art community at McCallum,” Joseph said. “It’s fun to get to know and meet people I’d otherwise not talk to at events like these.”
