Annual PYLUSD Artworks! exhibition goes virtual to uniquely display student art from across the district

The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) annual “Artworks!” student art exhibition has gone virtual! Each year, the exhibition professionally showcases artwork from PYLUSD students of all ages–Preppy-K through 12th grade–at the district’s Professional Development Academy located in Yorba Linda. However, due to the district’s commitment to limiting non-essential visitors on all campuses, the event could not be held in person this year.

As a result, visual arts teacher and program specialist, Janmarie Halliday, middle school visual arts teacher, Stephen Faller, and high school visual arts teacher, Brian Johnson, worked to create an innovative alternative and this year’s virtual Artworks! Gallery was born. Using the  web-based environment platform called Artsteps, you may now “walk through” the district’s virtual art exhibition online at www.artsteps.com/embed/6001c6082238ac07d0d60592/560/315. The gallery will be available through July 2021.

On the subject, Superintendent Dr. James Elsasser shared: “It is astonishing to see the artistic abilities of our students compiled in such an imaginative online format. It is no secret that arts education helps create a positive culture and climate in our schools. I am appreciative of our teachers’ continued commitment to excellence in the arts despite the challenges this year presented. It is thanks to their efforts that we all have this stunning virtual gallery of student art to enjoy.”

Family members, faculty and staff, and community members are encouraged to “walk through” the online gallery in order to see hundreds of original works of art by students across the district. Simply use your mouse to rotate and move from room to room within the gallery and click on an individual piece of art to see the student’s name and grade who created it. The exhibit features original student artwork in a wide variety of mediums including painting, ceramic, graphite, pastel, pen and ink, digital, 3D sculpture, and more!