As the second half of the school year begins, a feeling of nostalgia washes over Dreyfoos seniors. Many find themselves receiving college decisions, planning for their future beyond high school, and attempting to gather their bearings before graduation in May. Although students choose to do this in a number of ways, the visual and digital seniors have decided to leave their legacy by creating artwork that encapsulates their years spent in Building 9.

During the 2015-2016 school year, visual dean Lacey Van Reeth decided to install the 4×4 show in the Building 9 gallery. The room would be filled with pieces within the parameters of four inches by four inches, allowing students to reflect on themselves through any medium they wanted as long as it could fit into the small space. Students completed their self portraits over winter break, then hung them to be presented on Jan. 17.

“[The show] is unique, this is the second year we’re doing it. It’s very personal, which is great because it helps the students reflect on their opportunity to come to Dreyfoos and what that means to them and how it’s gonna impact their future lives,” digital media dean Peter Stodolak said. “It doesn’t mean they have to end up as artists or photographers or filmmakers. That opportunity affects people’s perceptions and how they view art and how it affects the quality of their life and experiences, that’s what sets the 4×4 Show apart.”

Seniors hard over winter break to complete their pieces in time for the show, and were given the option of using a plethora of materials and styles. Some chose to make 3-D geometric models to represent themselves, while others decided to draw traditional self portraits.

“[My piece] was made with watercolor pencil, sharpie, and cardboard. I decided to use similar stylistics that I do in my other pieces, which is sort of figures and dashes and meshing different materials,” visual senior Ellie Janssen said. “My concentration currently is using my personal experiences, memories, and data and synthesizing that in my art.”

Although many seniors have found a technique which works for them, others still find themselves developing their skills in different ways. Digital senior Julie Canales has not only changed her style during her time at Dreyfoos, but has found that she enjoys a type of art completely different from what she planned in her freshman year.

“I wanted to do photography [when I was a freshman], but as time went on, I didn’t feel like I could do enough to express myself with it. I started doing writing and drawing more, so I stuck with that mainly,” Canales said. “Sometimes it’s hard to draw exactly what I’m feeling, so I use my writing to sort of elaborate on that. It gives my work more depth, and helps me incorporate my thoughts and words into the characters I draw.”

For many of seniors, the 4×4 Show served as a reminder that their time at Dreyfoos is coming to a close. Throughout her years attending classes in Building 9, Janssen in particular feels that Dreyfoos has impacted her life both personally and artistically.   

“The students around me have definitely given me a more competitive edge; not in the sense that everyone wants to see you fail, but that everyone wants to see each other grow off of one another,” Janssen said. “Teachers help facilitate that by helping us develop skills we need. If I were to give incoming freshmen advice, I’d tell them to always keep making work. Even if you don’t know now what your art means to you, just keep creating it and following your artistic and creative flow.”