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Manteca showcases art work
MHS-ARTS4-4-22-10
Band member Christina Rodriguez receives a medal for a photo entry. - photo by HIME ROMERO
Josh Nkwocha had plenty of his work on display at Manteca High’s annual Day of the Arts Wednesday.

Included were a couple of sketches, multi-media projects, pastels and watercolor paintings.

One of the watercolor paintings that he completed during the second quarter of this year earned a first-place ribbon.

A junior, Nkwocha is a first-year student in Kirt Giovannoni’s Advanced Art class.

“I like drawing,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it at a young age.”

Nkwocha, in particular, enjoys the freedom of the work in Advanced Art. He’s also working on the Athletic Department mural with his depiction of the football player. Appropriate since Nkwocha was a member on this year’s MHS varsity football squad.

According to Mary Monaghan, chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, this year’s Day of the Arts held inside Winter Gymnasium also included the work of students in the design, photography, architecture, and video classes.

Her choir students performed medleys from a pair of Broadway musicals, Chicago and Mama Mia!

In addition, students in band were scheduled to perform several musical numbers.

For Sam Dolson, his Architectural Design class students displayed their proposed re-design of the Dawson Center.

That’s the outside quad area adjacent to the cafeteria where students often meet for lunch. Plans would call for eliminating the wall that separates the Dawson Center from the nearby class wings.

Not too long ago, Principal Doug McCreath presented the design plan to Dolson’s students. “We made it a class project,” he said.

All told, 14 of his students worked in teams to produce, design, and come up with plans of their concept of the Dawson Center. “They spent six to eight weeks on the project,” Dolson said.

Both he and McCreath were pleased with the product.

“The plans were technical and artistic,” Dolson said. “The students did a good job.”

Meanwhile, Giovannoni, who is Manteca Unified’s art coordinator, selected pieces from the MHS event for the district art show planned for early next month.

He announced his art medal winners.

Florian Lambert, an exchange student from France, was recognized as the top Introduction to Art student.

Dai-Ling Ma earned top honors for Color and Design.
Oscar Carrillo was honored for his work in Advanced Art.

And Breanna Navarro claimed top honor in 3-D Art.

The fifth annual District Art Show is planned for May 4 and will include the best efforts of students from MHS, East Union, Sierra, Weston Ranch, Calla, New Vision and Lathrop High.