When you walk into the South Tama County High School, many things are there to greet you, often an art gallery. A table just outside the main office holds several pieces of student artwork on display for people to admire.

This month’s gallery of glorious art sits on the shoulders of two themes, the first is ugliness. Art teacher Nathan Doran explained, “Participants were tasked with defining the concept of “ugly” in both general and artistic contexts, while also exploring the principle of contrast in art. They analyzed how various artists have interpreted and represented “ugliness” in their creations.”

What is love? This question was placed to students as the second theme that dominates the gallery table. The theme, inspired by a project done at UNI, had students creating art focused on domestic violence. “The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) is thrilled to host a competition in recognition of this important topic! The contest invites Iowa high school students, ages 14-19, to express their vision of love creatively,” Doran stated.

Whether made with pencil or paint, the student’s expressions displayed in the school’s hallway evoke a wide range of emotion. With each brush stroke, it’s clear the artists dug deep within themselves, exploring the themes of ugliness and love.