The ceramics classes participated in an “Art is Activism” project where students created pieces allowing them to bring forth issues that are important to them and the world around them.

“The Ai Weiwei art show on Alcatraz inspired me to create this project,” ceramics teacher Susan Simonds said.

Ai Weiwei is an artist who is known for mixing activism into her pieces, and her exhibit on Alcatraz does just that by questioning freedom of expression and human rights.

“It is important for people to learn that art isn’t always making pretty things,” Simonds said.

Senior Alex Darwish said that this assignment gave ceramics students the opportunity to speak up about issues that matter to them in a creative way.

“Ms. Simonds wanted her students to make pieces that had more meaning than just meeting requirements,” Darwish said.

Senior Andrew Strauch said that the project allowed students to bring forth issues that affect people everyday. His piece shows how large manufacturing companies are exploiting low-wage workers around the world.

“Not only was it a way to bring up those problems, but it forced me to learn and understand more about the issue I was focusing on,” Strauch said.

For inspiration, the classes watched documentaries about the impacts of activist artists during class.

“There is a bigger world out there and everyone has something to say,” Simonds said. “This is a wonderful vehicle to say it in a nonviolent context.”

Simonds said that everyone chose their own project and statement to make.

“If it is not personal, then it lacks impact,” Simonds said. “It needs to be something that is important to them.”

Junior Megan Wilensky said she had to think about this piece more than all of the others because it means something more.

“I worked on my own piece about the media and body image,” Wilensky said.

Wilensky used Barbie dolls and photographs in magazines to show how the media tells people how to be perfect.

Darwish’s piece is an open book with a bomb in the center of it. She chose these elements to show the way military spending is a lot more valued in our country than the education budget.

“My mom does a lot with education in California and as a senior, I can see how far down education has fallen on the government’s list of priorities,” Darwish said.

Darwish said that she thinks it is important to get young adults involved so early on because they are not often heard.

“Bad things are still happening throughout the world,” Simonds said. “We can use art as a voice.”