By guiding students on how to master new art skills, the afterschool Art Club at Southwest High School inspires students with unique projects and provides a safe and fun environment. This club has gradually been gaining popularity for nearly three years.
Emily Rubio, an SHS alumni and former Southwest Academy of the Visual and Performing Arts student, volunteered to be the instructor for the Art Club. She started in March of 2022 with only six students. Now, as of 2024, the classes range anywhere from 17 to 23 students.
“Not everyone can make it into SAVAPA,” she said.
She said that she does not want students to give up on their art dreams simply because they did not get accepted.
“It’s not just art, It’s more than art…I take care of my students as if you guys are all my siblings,” said Rubio.
Kimberly Rodriguez is another former Art Club student who has graduated and returned as a volunteer. She said that club members are so comfortable with each other that the students are on a first-name basis with the instructors.
“We all call her Emily,” said Rodriguez. “It just feels like we’re her friends, her family.”
Art Club is not just paintings and sketches, this club offers intricate and complicated lessons such as how to make stamps, t-shirts, bouquets, sculptures, and much more. However, she does not do it alone: Rubio said she took inspiration from her students because she wanted the club to follow “the voice of the students.”
Karina Martinez, a site coordinator in the ARC Program, said the club is meant for the advisors to take time to listen to the students and get to know them more personally.
“Overall, I think it’s just a really great club to build their skills, socialize with people…have guidance of a talented artist,” Martinez said.
Socializing has inspired students to create a community where they can be comfortable reaching out to each other. Bethenny Salazar Soto, a 14-year-old freshman student in the Art Club, said she was nervous at first.
“It was very nerve-racking. I had no idea what we were going to do,” said Salazar Soto.
She said that she had slowly gained the confidence to socialize, and the people were very welcoming to her.
“They’re funny, my kind of people,” said Salazar Soto.
Sophia Espinoza, a 16-year-old senior, who has been in the club for two years, said she had a similar experience. Espinoza joined when there were only about five people in the club and she said that it was very awkward at first.
“Because (the art club instructor) was really casual with talking with us, we all felt really welcomed and started talking to each other because Emily encouraged us to,” said Espinoza.
The Art Club operates from 3:30 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. in K-54 every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and is open to anyone who wants to join. It provides a safe place for self-expression and nourishes creative minds. Art Club will not be available on minimum days.
“Every day is something new,” said Rubio.