Spring Branch ISD Featured News

 

Behind a glass display in Gallery 1 of the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum (AYAM), four unique masks tell their own stories. Each piece was created during the first assignment of the school year in Chris McVay’s Art 2 Sculpture class at Northbrook High School (NHS) in Spring Branch ISD (SBISD).

“I wanted the assignment to be a launchpad for student creativity and independence,” McVay said. “I teach using the creative process—plan, research, create, and revise/reflect—which helps students build both artistic and critical-thinking skills.”

The sculptures are among several student works McVay selected to represent NHS in the fall student art show at AYAM.

 

 

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Painted Emotions

Senior Ashly Salguero titled her mask Painted Emotions.

“The inspiration for my mask came from an anime called High-Rise Invasion and The Joker movie,” she said. “I like how both use masks to hide emotions.”

Salguero built the base from foil sheets shaped into a face, then covered it with papier-mâché. She used paper clay to form a mouth and a heart atop the nose before painting the final design with acrylic paint.

“The hardest part was improving my papier-mâché technique,” she said. “My classmates said I did a really good job.”

The Cure

Senior Mia Zavala had wanted to make a plague mask for some time, so when McVay announced the project, she knew exactly what to create. Her piece, The Cure, reflects her fascination with the haunting history of the plague doctor’s mask.

“When it was time to make a mask in class, I jumped toward that opportunity,” Zavala said. “I began researching popular plague-masked characters and took inspiration from each one.”

She noted that creating 3D art requires a different thought process than drawing or painting. “Unlike 2D, you have to form what you’re making,” she said. “Both take skill, but 3D is harder because you have to know what each side will look like.”

Zavala used cardboard forms to make the base and experimented with papier-mâché before finalizing the shape.

Spirit of the Afterlife

Senior Fatima Yaretzi Gallegos found inspiration in alebrijes—brightly colored Mexican folk-art sculptures of fantastical creatures. Her fox-like spirit animal mask, Spirit of the Afterlife, connects her heritage and artistic imagination.

“I researched a fox’s bone structure and facial anatomy to guide my design,” she said. “That helped me build a stronger idea of what I wanted my piece to look like.”

Through a process of trial and error, she refined the mask’s form. “After building, making mistakes, and redoing parts, I papier-mâchéd the entire mask to smooth rough edges and give it a defined, finished look,” she said. Paper clay added finer details around the eyes and nose.

“For my first piece of the year, I’m really proud of how it turned out,” she said. “I struggled with some details, but I pushed through with help from my classmates.”

Frank

Sophomore Madeline Maldonado took her inspiration from Donnie Darko, creating a rabbit-like mask she titled Frank.

“What I like about 3D art is creating a form that brings my work to life,” she said. “The difficult part was focusing on small details and keeping it from cracking. My classmates were amazed by my scary bunny mask.”

Learning the order of the mask-making steps helped Maldonado strengthen her planning skills—an ability she says translates into other academic areas as well.

Incorporating Academic Skills

In McVay’s classes, students go beyond creating art. For this project, they began by sketching three thumbnail ideas to explore concepts, then researched reference images and techniques. Each student chose their own materials and methods, giving them ownership over their work.

At the end of the assignment, students wrote artist statements to reflect on their process.

“It was amazing to see how each student approached the challenge in their own way and how much they learned through problem-solving,” McVay said. “I’m incredibly proud of the level of learning they achieved.”

 

 

Accomplished Something Great

Having their masks selected for the AYAM fall exhibit gave students a sense of pride and confidence.

“Knowing my art is displayed means a lot to me—it tells me I’ve accomplished something great,” Maldonado said.
“The Spirit of the Afterlife is one of my first 3D creations, and it will hold a special place in my heart,” added Gallegos. “Since it made it to a museum, maybe more of my creations will be on display in the future.”

“Beyond the technical aspects, I believe my students learned something deeper about themselves. Their ability to problem-solve, express ideas visually, and persevere through challenges is at the heart of this work,” McVay said. “I hope they continue to be inspired by what they’ve created.”

Public Invited

The public is invited to view the AYAM fall student art show, open through Dec. 12. The museum is located on the north side of the Westchester Academy for International Studies campus in SBISD.

To schedule a visit, call (713) 251-1990.

#CoreCharacteristics

 

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About Spring Branch ISD Performing and Visual Arts

Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) is a five-time Texas Art Education Association District of Distinction, recognized for exceptional support of student artists and arts education. From elementary through high school, SBISD students create, perform, and exhibit across a full spectrum of visual and performing arts programs that inspire creativity, confidence, and connection.

The district’s Elementary Teacher of the Year is an art educator, underscoring SBISD’s belief that the arts are essential to inspiring minds and shaping lives. Each year, SBISD hosts signature events such as Art Signing Day for seniors pursuing the arts in college, a robust districtwide fine arts and performance calendar, and competitive theater productions and box office performances that draw audiences from across the region.

With a legacy of excellence and opportunity, SBISD stands as a destination for the arts where student talent, passionate educators, and community pride come together to celebrate creativity in all its forms.

#SBISDProud