HP_041819

hplandmark.com news
the highland park landmark | April 18, 2019 | 3
Artist workshops take over HPHS for Focus on the Arts
Erin Yarnall, Editor
Highland Park High School’s Collage Dance Company
performs at the event. Photos by Erin Yarnall/22nd
Century Media
Highland Park High
School students received
an interruption in their
normal school day Thursday,
April 11 and Friday,
April 12, when all of their
classes were canceled.
Instead of their regular
class schedule, HPHS students
chose a variety of
sessions and workshops
to attend, led by artists
discussing and teaching
a wide range of topics —
from architecture to dance
to creative writing.
The artists were teaching
and giving workshops
at the school for Focus on
the Arts — a biannual celebration
of all art forms at
the school.
Focus on the Arts has
been held over three days
in the past, but because of
student testing, organizers
decided to hold it for two
full days, rather than three
partial days.
“It’s allowed us to put
more things on each day
so the kids have more options,
which is kind of fun,
versus trying to spread
the same artists over three
days,” said Jody Weinberg,
the coordinator of Focus
on the Arts.
The two-day event is
planned over a two-year
time frame, with much of
the preliminary work happening
in an “off year,”
and the booking of artists
happening the school
year in which Focus takes
place.
“As much as I’d like to
do everything two years in
advance, nobody knows
what they’re doing two
years in advance, so it
would be hard to do that
part,” Weinberg said.
She is helped by hundreds
of volunteers, including
students, parents
and community members.
Students form several
committees and each do
their part in helping to organize
the event.
Highland Park senior
Matthew Sosler served
on the media committee.
He first became interested
in Focus after his older
brother included him in the
planning process when he
was a committee member.
For Sosler, his favorite
part of Focus is “hosting
artists” — or escorting artists
throughout the event,
and giving them a tour of
the school.
This year, Sosler was
able to host Mike Berman,
a sportscaster for NBC 5,
and Rob Elgas, an anchor
with ABC 7, among other
journalists. Sosler plans
to study sports media at
Ithaca College next year,
so he found this experience
helpful for his future
career.
“Not only do you get to
play tour guide and show
them around the school,
but you get to sit down and
talk to them,” Sosler said.
“Especially if you have an
interest and you want to go
into their field, or a similar
field, they can give you
advice. They can tell you
cool experiences they’ve
had and be a positive influence
on you.”
Highland Park High
School junior Rachel
Klein said she doesn’t
have much of an interest in
the arts, but still appreciates
Focus on the Arts for
offering different opportunities
to students.
“[Focus on the Arts] is
sort of a pillar of the liberal
education that every student,
even if they’re never
going to do art in their life,
are able to understand and
appreciate art in all of its
forms,” Klein said.
In addition to the two
days of festivities, Focus
commences with an opening
night, in which several
performers sing and dance,
and Highland Park High
School’s bands perform
several songs.
The school also played
host to Art Night on April
11, in which professional
artists showcased their
work along the hallways
of Highland Park High
School.
“I’m pleased that our
administration and our
community value the importance
of the arts and
value the understanding
that it’s something that’s
good for everybody,”
Weinberg said. “Our goal
is not to make everybody
Members of Highland Park High School’s jazz ensemble perform “La Fiesta” by
Chick Corea, April 9, at Focus on the Art’s Opening Night.
an artist. Our goal is to
give students an opportunity
to try something new.
Maybe they find a new
hobby. Maybe they find
a new career, maybe they
just become a good audience
member in the future,
or a supporter of the arts.
All of those things are important
and help for a wellrounded
individual.”