Student artwork highlighted in all-state show

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In "La Lutte," Kelsey Poulsen says that mental illness can ensnare anyone.

DRAPER — The artwork of two Juan Diego Catholic High School students is on display at the Springville Museum of Art as part of the 50th Annual Utah All-State High School Show.

Pieces by Kelsey Poulsen and Janessa Young-Flores were chosen from 1,063 entries from 108 high schools across the state to be among the 335 works in the show. Judging was by a panel of 12 professional artists and arts administrators.

The piece by Kelsey, titled “La Lutte” (The Fight), features a black-and-white pencil self-portrait of the artist, who appears to be ensnared by barbed wire.

“I wanted to convey the feeling and struggle of having a mental health disorder and always feeling tied down,” wrote Kelsey, a Juan Diego senior, in a statement that accompanies the piece. “So many people have to fight their disorder, and I wanted to create something that was relatable, and that people could connect to.”

While she has taken art classes throughout her school career, before this year she had never enrolled in an advanced art class, said Kelsey, who is taking AP Art.

“I decided since it was my senior year that I was just going to go for it,” she said.

 In the class, she focuses on how she can represent the effects of hereditary mental health issues; members of her family struggle with ADHD, bipolar disorder and OCD, she said.

Previously, the only artwork she had displayed was in middle school for an Arbor Day contest, so “I am really proud” of her piece being chosen for the all-state show, she said.

After graduation, she plans to go on to college and major in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and minor in interior design.

“Package Deal” by Janessa, who is also a senior, is a colored pencil, gouache and pen drawing of two halves of an open pomegranate, its seeds exposed.

Gouache is a painting method that uses opaque pigments ground in water and thickened with a gluelike substance.

Janessa said she has been inspired by her parents’ pursuit of art; her father, Luis, is an artist and her mother, Alysia, is a photographer.  

“I chose to draw a pomegranate to represent opening up to another person while emphasizing the spectrum of color that represents our personality,” Janessa said in the statement that accompanies her piece. “The way we present on an outward facade is different from the truth that comes from our internal beauty. While there may be rotten seeds representing our bad traits, there are also perfect seeds that show every unique thing about us. No person shares the same personality, similar to how pomegranates don’t all share the same kinds of seeds.”

Of her piece being chosen for the show, she said, “I’m really proud of myself, and I feel very inspired artistically.”

Janessa has taken art classes since attending Juan Diego CHS; she is currently enrolled in AP Art. After high school Janessa plans to attend college, majoring in psychology and minoring in art. She hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist or in marketing.

The Utah All-State High School Show will run through March 25. It is the result of an ongoing collaboration between the Springville Museum of Art, high school teachers and students, and various private partners. An online gallery of the artwork is available at  https://springvillemuseumofart.submittable.com/gallery/53e9590a-0e61-4ad1-a625-401c5c487ebd.