Perpich Students Participate in “Of the Earth” Climate Change Show at Art-A-Whirl 2024

May 21, 2024

Perpich Arts High School was offered the opportunity to participate in Art-a-Whirl this year as part of the second annual “Of the Earth” climate change exhibition that is spearheaded by local artist, Peggy Thompson, mother of Maggie Thompson (Visual Arts 2008).

Students partnered with Derek Debrauske, Science Instructor, who taught several lessons to get students thinking about the major impacts on climate change and in what ways we can make a measurable impact. Lindsey Schmitt’s Art and Sustainability class created artworks in Quarter 3 and Kathryn D’Elia’s Exploring Painting class created mixed media pieces in Quarter 4 for this exhibition. Several Visual Arts students assisted with layout and install of the exhibition.

On Friday evening of the event, Kevin Lally’s Literary Arts students shared spoken word pieces and Mary Harding’s Dance students performed before the gathered crowd. Visual Art works were on display all weekend.

Kathryn D’Elia, Studio Arts Chair and Visual Arts Instructor, said, “The ‘Of The Earth’ show at Art-a-Whirl was a special outreach show for Perpich, not just for the important, poignant theme of exploring a hopeful outlook through climate change, but this was a rare experience where three Perpich arts areas (Visual Arts, Literary Arts, and Dance) came together to share their creativity and expression in one space. This was Perpich’s first participation in Art-a-Whirl, an incredibly well-attended art event in North East Minneapolis and viewers remarked on the skill of our young artists, and the diverse concepts explored in their pieces.”