| | Published December 21st, 2011
| Miramonte Art Students re-Paint Picasso
| | Cathy Dausman |  | | From left: Art students Katherine Gunn, Liana Notini, Emma Trevarthen, Sofie Woodlee Photos Cathy Dausman
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Miramonte High School visual art students are getting a feel for the depth and breadth of Pablo Picasso's paintings by observing, re-creating and then interpreting some of his works in a project they call "Homage to Picasso." Over thirty student-created works in charcoal, oil, acrylic, pen and ink, pastel or water color enliven the loft walls at the school's Art Center. Among the transformations, a woman becomes a dog, a giraffe or a cobra, and a rooster becomes a bull. Ipods and IVs make anachronistic statements. It began last summer when students from advanced art classes viewed a selection of Picasso's works at San Francisco's de Young Museum.
Once school started, students copied a selected work. After understanding its palette, content and style they were challenged to create an original painting in a similar style. Teacher Deborah Hovey-LaCour said this last step was a process which went "beyond duplication," showing their skill in the media while keeping the essence of Picasso. The students spent four weeks of class time on the project.
Senior Sofie Woodlee chose "The Frugal Meal" and updated it in a charcoal rendering with what she says are "more modern issues." Picasso's original work shows a gaunt couple seated by a wine bottle and an empty plate. Woodlee, who normally draws landscapes and positive subjects, says she liked the forms but that "this piece was a giant step out of my comfort zone." The result is silent commentary on more modern issues, such as serious illness: the man is tethered to an IV bag and the women seated beside him smokes nervously while pain pills spill from her purse. Woodlee hopes to major in art conservation in college and says this work will become part of her portfolio.
Liana Notini not only re-invented a Picasso acrylic still life, she designed Picasso cookies for her classmates to enjoy. The senior looks forward to a career in art, doing gallery work. Notini, who acted as publicity director for the show, was enthusiastic over the "tons of [Miramonte] people" who attended the lunch hour opening on December 7.
Hovey-LaCour is pleased with the results, and proud of her students, saying they "curated, promoted, matted and hung the show themselves." The display is open to the public during school hours through January 6. For details, call Miramonte High School at (925) 280-3930.
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 | | Michelle Lee
Asleep (1932) Untitled (Sleeping Women)
"White is the fastest to go. One is never done."
|  | | Emily Beeman
Le Baiser (The Kiss) (1925)
The Embrace
"It was a good experience to take on elements from the master and work on a surreal subject."
|  | | Even the refreshments were artsy! MHS Senior Liana Notini was inspired to make these Picasso cookies. Notini is in A.P. art class
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA