Assumption Art Club does service by design

By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger

DAVENPORT — “It’s all about service.” That’s the focus of Art Club at Assumption High School, says visual arts and graphic design teacher Holly Secker-Brosman.

The art club meets Mondays throughout the school year. Students attend as they can, depending on sports, extracurricular activities and work.

Each year the club has three major projects related to three events: the annual Festival of Trees, April Knight school fundraiser and a pastel competition.

Students decorate or make a tree for the festival, which is a fundraiser for Quad City Arts. For 2014, the artists created an origami paper tree with additional origami ornaments to decorate the tree.
The school has won several blue ribbons over the years, Secker-Brosman said.

For this year’s April Knight, former Assumption president Linda Duffy bought a nativity set at an estate sale. She donated the pieces to the art club to freshen up and use for the auction. Students added fresh paint to each piece to brighten the figures.

For the pastel competition, sponsored by Bucktown Center for the Arts in Davenport, one of the entries from the students was an artwork about 8 feet by 8 feet. It hangs in the school’s library.
Assumption has received awards in the pastel competition, with the proceeds used to pay for art materials.

This year the club had a major undertaking – painting murals at the Humane Society of Scott County, down the street from Assumption. Since the fall, students and Secker-Brosman try to paint murals on the walls weekly. “We’re making it colorful and upbeat,” said sophomore Gabriela Moya.

As for why students belong to art club, Moya said, “It’s a great way to express how you feel in different ways. It shows how we interpret something. And it’s a plus that your friends are here.”
Sophomore Tammy Truong said she likes helping out the community. “We use our talents to help others and we expect nothing in return.”

Freshman Marissa Shell’s passion is drawing. But through art club she has taken on painting. “It’s a new experience.” She enjoys painting at the Humane Society and afterwards likes to look at the animals.

“You can express yourself,” said sophomore Rachel Thomas. “It’s easy to do and we get to help the community.”

Over the years art club participants have created art throughout the school. Near the offices is a cross made from a variety of media and done in Assumption High School colors of red, white and black.
In the library is a mural of Mary created several years ago. The art club recently gave it a fresh coat of paint.