Local program gives students a head start in arts and humanities

Eighty high school students are getting a drastically different experience than every other student in Lincoln.

These students attend the Arts & Humanities Focus Program, a Lincoln Public Schools program for especially curious and committed students.

Some Arts and Humanities (A&H) students go on to art schools, others choose not to. But all graduates take away a unique education that prepares them for college in an alternative setting.

"It's the small version of what a real art institute is really like," said Gerardo Meza, A&H art instructor and professional artist.

Meza said the 80 students are given freedom and responsibility within the school to be creative and produce quality work.

John Clark, the program's social studies instructor, said the program's conscious community involvement teaches the students to "figure out their own ways to get things done."

All students attend one of Lincoln's six public high schools in the morning for core classes before arriving at A&H, located at 643 S. 25th St., for the rest of their day.

Ashley Anderson, a former A&H student now attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, said she considered A&H her main high school because she spent only two hours at Lincoln East each day.

"Arts changed my line of thinking, while East hardly challenged me at all," Anderson said.

Classes at A&H are organized as block scheduling. Most students have six classes, each twice a week.

Clark compared this schedule to college, saying students are expected to do more outside work to complete assignments.

All 80 students attend a humanities class each week, often hearing from prominent speakers on topics related to the semester's theme. This semester's theme at A&H is "power."

"The humanities course was one of the special things about Arts and Humanities that built a stronger community with its students," said Anderson.

Clark said not every student comes to study art, so it's important to be socially and politically aware.

"The collective focus on social issues and art makes students rounded people," said Clark.

Meza said about five percent of seniors become serious about attending art institutes each year, and many former students have gone on to Kansas City, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Chicago art schools.

If students decide to apply for art school, the work starts right away. Students' entire senior year could be dedicated to putting together a portfolio of artwork and writing an artist's statement.

Amber Stevens, a senior in the program, joined her junior year. She said she has already been accepted to art institutes in Chicago and Savannah, Ga., and plans to pursue a career in painting. She likely wouldn't be headed down that path without LPS's focus program, Stevens said.

"They've helped me a lot as an artist just to mature," she said while working on a painting of a woman's silhouette in white against a dark blue background. "I don't think that most public school art programs do that."

Meza creates individualized curriculum for each student in his classes, knowing they all have different focuses and goals.

"They have to start thinking like an artist," Meza said. "You can't just have a pretty picture. You've got to have substance."

Once students have a specific message, they must use their technique and creativity to create a portfolio of what should be their best work to date, Meza said.

Because of the program's small student population, teachers can spend more one-on-one time with students, helping to prepare materials and relieve unnecessary pressure.

"I became more passionate and determined to work on a project because I had a connection with my teacher," said Anderson. "I wanted to do my best and I wanted to impress my teachers and peers."

Meza said when students are working on different projects, the atmosphere of A&H motivates everybody to try new things. Every one of 15 students interviewed Tuesday agreed.

"I really like the environment here, it's so relaxed," said Luke Nispel, a junior whose face was inches away from his canvas, a splayed brush in hand. An open bag of popcorn and an iPod plugged into his ear helped confirm the sentiment.

"You can be super creative," agreed Brittany Coudriet, a senior who was working on a ceramic Triceratops. "You have a lot more freedom here to just mess around with stuff."

None of that was surprising to Meza.

"The creative vibe is live, and it rubs off on others," he said.

Anderson warned that despite the negative reputation given to A&H as the "fly-by school," it is geared to students who are passionate about the arts.

"I cannot stress how important it is that just as public school isn't for everyone, Arts and Humanities isn't for everyone," she said. "It's a focus program based on something that you are passionate about."

Dan holtmeyer contributed to this report.

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