San Francisco High School of the Arts (HSArts) is holding its first ever month-long Spring Arts Exhibition to showcase the finest collection of its student artwork.
The art exhibit grand opening took place at the San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building on March 8 and included several dance performances by HSArts students as well as curation of the exhibit by Ms. Lucy Cui, an art teacher at HSArts. In addition, awards were presented to students and teachers, and a reception followed. About 100 guests joined the festivities and reception.
The office of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, represented by district director Kory Powell-McCoy, presented awards to four HSArts teachers, one student, one HSArts Alumni, and the school itself for their contributions to the art community.
The award ceremony at the HSArts exhibit at the San Francisco War Memorial Veterans Building in San Francisco on March 8, 2024. Steve Ispas/The Epoch Times
Other guests included former SF Supervisor and Judge Quentin Kopp; American Legion Post Commander Jeff Sheibels; American Legion War Memorial Commission Chair CJ Reeves; and John Y.C. Chu, deputy director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, which functions as a consulate for Taiwan.
Mr. Chu appreciated the high-quality performance of the students and their technique and said that this event is a very good opportunity for the students to learn and improve their presentation, and at the same time it is helping others to learn from their example and their determination to get a better education. He said the event can help their talents rub off on others.
“I think this is the best way to demonstrate what they learned from their school, which emphasizes hard work, discipline, and passion. For them, if they get exposed to a bigger environment or competition or compared to other artwork, they can learn new ideas, concepts, and they can improve themselves more,” he said.
According to its website, HSArts is the only private arts school in the San Francisco Bay Area for students in grades 6–12.
The fine arts exhibit is a good opportunity to connect realist artists and promote traditional arts, Ms. Cui said.
“When artists create, they share their thoughts and emotions with their audience. Since the inception of oil painting, it has evolved through various periods and styles, from realism to modern art. Our school firmly believes in the existence of standards in art, where only creations that inspire audiences with pure goodness and beauty are valued. To achieve this, artists must possess strong fundamental skills to bring their ideas to fruition,” said Ms. Cui.
JConr Ortega, an advocate for the homeless who is running for District 3 San Francisco Supervisor, found out about the exhibit from his friend. Mr. Ortega appreciated the importance of the exhibit for San Francisco, as he sees art as a specific way to inspire people to help others, imagine new ways, and develop new skills, even outside of art.
“When we see all the chaotic things going on in SF, we need the younger generation to be prepared to handle these different things and think outside of the box,” he said.
He sees art as a ground for people to improve their different virtues, basic humanity, and their goodness by going back to the basic roots.
“It is very impressive—we are improving people’s skills instead of depriving,” said Mr. Ortega.
Mr. Reeves came to the event dressed in American Revolutionary War attire. He is part of Sons of the Revolution, since his family can be traced back to the 1700s in the United States.
CJ Reeves, Chair of the American Legion War Memorial Commission, at the HSArts exhibit reception in San Francisco on March 8, 2024. Steve Ispas/The Epoch Times
Dr. Sherry Zhang co-founded HSArts in 2010 with a vision to have a school that excels in both arts and academics in San Francisco. She currently serves as head of the school.
“Today, our guests were treated to an exceptional demonstration of dance, music, and art by our talented students,” said Ms. Zhang. “Such a display of talent is not just rare in San Francisco but almost unparalleled anywhere else. I am immensely proud of our students for their remarkable achievements, a true testament to their dedication and hard work. As we always emphasize in our school, hard work and passion deliver success!”
The exhibit continues through the month of March at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 401 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. including weekends. There is no charge to visit the exhibit.
