Visit Our New Website!

 This Fine Arts Blog has officially retired as of August 2023. 

Please visit our NEW Fine Arts Website HERE!

This web address will remain active as a historical archive of the DGN Fine Arts Department from 2006-2023.

DGN Visual Artists Sweep IL 6th Congressional District Art Exhibition Honors!

1st prize Greta Serniute "Look At What You've Done" acrylic painting

Congratulations to DGN Visual Art students Greta Serniute, Julia Arnold and Lydia Metcalf for their recognition in the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Art Exhibition.

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our congressional districts. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents.  Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.

Greta Serniute (Class of 2023) earned 1st place in Sean Casten’s Congressional District (Illinois 6th). Her work will be framed and displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide. She is awarded two airline tickets to attend the Awards Ceremony this summer in Washington, D.C.

Julia Arnold (Class of 2023) won 2nd place, also in Sean Casten’s Congressional District (Illinois 6th). Her framed work will be exhibited in Congressman Casten’s office.

Lydia Metcalf (Class of 2023) won 3rd place, also in Sean Casten’s Congressional District (Illinois 6th). Her framed work will be exhibited in Congressman Casten’s office.

2nd prize Julia Arnold "The Body Keeps the Score" digital drawing

3rd prize Lydia Metcalf "The Conducting Mantis" watercolor & ink

Dr. Piekarz Appointed "Guardian of the Purple"

Mr. Richard Jontry taught World Languages (German) at North High School from 1965-2008. Through his 42-year tenure he was known for wearing this purple jacket (with a matching purple tie) every Friday, to show his school spirit.

When Mr. Jontry retired in May of 2008, he walked into Mr. Teague's classroom and presented the jacket and tie to him in front of his students. He asked Mr. Teague to be the "guardian of the purple" until he retired, and then pass the garments along to another staff member who was “equally committed to the spirit of our school, and finishing their career at North High.”

On Monday morning Mr. Teague presented Mr. Jontry's jacket and tie to Dr. Frank Piekarz in front of his students. The small lapel pins were added by Mr. Teague; they each represent a special event in the history of the school.

Congratulations Dr. Piekarz, on being appointed the new Guardian of the Purple!

AP Studio Art - Graduating Senior Retrospective

We invite students and families of our DGN Visual Art community to enjoy THIS RETROSPECTIVE, featuring submitted work by our graduating AP Studio Visual Artists. 

If viewed on a computer, please note that you may use the SPACE key, as well as ARROW keys to advance slides (forward, backward, pause). 

Congratulations to each of these featured visual artists:

Emily Allen

Julia Arnold

Sarisa Chulanon

Aidan Corbett

Gabriella De Gante

Natalie DiBartolo

Maddy Dvorak

Natasha Fugate

Eve Giesler

Adi Hernandez

Payton Hubbs-Plumley

Nathan Klasen

Amelia Kolatek

Lydia Metcalf

Charlie Michaels

Emily Nemeth

Kate Palczynski

Leo Peters

Matt Poe

Aiden Robinson

Calista Schuster

Yahir Servin

Lennart Strempfer

Jonah Sutton

Ashley Wachel

Sarah Woods

Abigail Zdenek

DGN Fine Arts Salutes the Class of 2023!

The DGN Fine Arts Department extends a heartfelt congratulations and bids a fond farewell to the North High School Class of 2023. Specifically, we acknowledge the artists in Music, Theatre and Visual Art who elevated our standards throughout their academic journey and will leave behind a legacy of high achievement and artistic excellence. We wish you each great success in your future endeavors, and encourage you to return to your Alma Mater and visit frequently! 

People's Choice Awards - DGN 2023 Spring Art Show

Congratulations to the winners of the People’s Choice Awards from the 2023 DGN Spring Art Show! Abbey Rosenberg is the winner of the three-dimensional artwork ribbon for her ceramics piece titled “P(l)ants.” The winner of the ribbon for two-dimensional artwork is Tyler Staken, who had two drawings, “Ambidextrous Insanity” and “Junkyard (Ambidextrous),” receiving the same number of votes. 

Congratulations DGN Chamber Choir - 2023 Farewell Concert

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Chamber Choi for their wonderful performance at the 2023 Chamber Choir Farewell Concert. 

A special thanks is extended to musicians from the Class of 2023 who performed in their final concert at North High School this evening. Bravo!

Congratulations D99 Orchestras - 2023 Spring Concert

Congratulations to the members of the District 99 String Chamber Ensembles, District 99 Concert Orchestra, District 99 Symphonic Orchestra, and the DGN A Cappella Choir for wonderful performances at the 2023 District 99 Spring Orchestra Concert. 

A special "bravo" is extended to senior musicians Stephen Cecil (viola) and Nicole Moravec (violin) for their solo concerto performances. Bravo!

Visual Artists Recognized at Spring Art Show Exhibition

Congratulations to all DGN Visual Artists who have work exhibited in the 2023 DGN Spring Art Show!

Spring Art Show Award Recipients

Principal's Choice Award

2D: Lee Kelly - Faceless

3D: Timmy Fleming - Let Me Blossom

Honorable Mention:

    Sarah Woods - Replication

    Natasha Fugate - Entanglement 

    Ashija Flower - Speckles

Realistic (reference-based) Drawing & Painting

1st Place: Maura MacDonald - Ink Watercolor Self-Portrait

2nd Place: Daniela Wallace - Still Life Beauty

3rd Place: Tamara Vlaskovic - Vengeance

Honorable Mention:

    Daniela Wallace - Still Life Beauty

    Mary Salgado - Friends Lost to Time

    Nick Flores - Cobalt & Wine

    Jeremiah Washington - Mirror Picture

    Natasha Fugate - Skull

    Sadie Kearney - Nostalgia

    Josh Ronquillo - A Sky to Remember

    Jolie Weisz - Me

    Calista Schuster - On Display (1)

    Dashiell McNamara - Obtuse

Imaginative Drawing & Painting

1st Place: Tyler Staken - Ambidextrous Insanity

2nd Place: Peter Bowe - Blackened Bone

3rd Place: Eve Giesler - The Vile Divines

Honorable Mention:

    Kayley Bohne - The Green Eyed Monster

    Matthew Poe - Theola

    Gabriella De Gante - The Ideal Man

    Lydia Metcalf - Playing Through the Night

    Azrael Robinson - Record Player

    Adi Hernandez - The Status Quo Hurts Everyone

    Greta Serniute - A Shield from the Rain

    Tamara Vlaskovic - Present Day, Present Time

    Illia Ishchenko - Tied by Vinechains

    Mya Jones - Stream of Thoughts

Black & White Photography

1st Place: Yahir Servin - “Fenced Country”

2nd Place: Cara Fleming - “As Above, So Below”

3rd Place: Alex Drozdov - “Shadows”

Honorable Mention:

    Jack Brindl - “Shadows of Tomorrow”

    Alex Drozdov - “Crosswalk”

    Henry Gwozdz - “My Fate is Sealed”

    Henry Gwozdz - “A Mind of Its Own”

    Lecia Johnson - “Outside”

    Easan Ponnapoondar - “Untitled”

    Yahir Servin - “(:Nissan:)”

    Yahir Servin - “Eyeglass”

    Sara Woods - “Replication”

    Abigail Zdenek - “Take the Road Less Traveled”

Color Photography

1st Place: Sarisa Chulanon - “Compare”

2nd Place: Ella Leathers - “Untitled #8”

3rd Place: Yahir Servin - “Trafico”

Honorable Mention:

    Darren Burrows - “Ready to Sting”

    Mia Chico - “Chicago”

    Sarisa Chulanon - “Reflected Fragments”

    Cara Fleming - “The Goal”

    Owen Hardage - “Me”

    Ella Leathers - “Untitled #6”

    Yahir Servin - “43?”

    Jonah Sutton - “Ring of Past”

    Ashley Wachel - “Fool”

    Sarah Woods - “Taking It In”

Functional Ceramics

1st Place: Emily Allen - “Predator - Prey”

2nd Place: Abbey Rosenberg - “P(L)ANTS”

3rd Place: Aiden Musso - “Preservation”

Honorable Mention:

    Sarisa Chulanon - “Ocean Waves”

    Maria Armas - “Zacatecas”

    Eva Cesare - “Prayer in the Garden”

    Abigail Darrah - “The Spark”

    Seann Purintun - “Moonlight”

    Maya Gawley - “My Polish Ancestry”

    Gabby Sale - “Adventure Time”

    Harrison Konder - “Holes”

    Natalie Dibartolo - “Starvation for Beauty”

    Henry Gwozdz - “Untitled Vessel 1”

Sculptural Ceramics

1st Place: Aleena Chulanon - “Desolate”

2nd Place: Cammie Crowson - “Entangled”

3rd Place: Maddy Dvorak - “Therapy”

Honorable Mention:

    Finn Gray - “Please Let Me Go”

    Kiley Steidl - “Lily Pad Pond”

    Esther Izrailov - “Mossy Entanglement”

    Natalia Velasquez - “Fairy Tale House”

    Alyssa Parratore - “Flower Blues”

    Cammie Crowson - “Alps in Pieces” 

    Cammie Crowson - “Cheesiest Piece”

    Natasha Fugate - “Frog and Toad” 

    Jackie Howard - “Papaw’s Fish”

    Katrina Sinner - “Allelujah!”

Jewelry & Metalwork

1st Place: Elise Sadler - Symphony

2nd Place: Kelsey Spahn - Mirror of Memories

3rd Place: Henry Gwozdz - Making Something I Cannot See

Honorable Mention:

    Emily Kus - You Still Dance in My Mind

    Timmy Flemming - Ripples

    Amelia Passero - Is It Painful?

    Hannah Wyssman - Save the Barrier

    Cali Bailey - Fool’s Gold

    Mary Guzman - Transparent

    Emma Navarro - Growing Berry Tired

    Parker Rozek - Swirly Hexagon

    Nadya Moreno - Shine

    Aiden Robinson - Memories

Digital Art

1st Place: Eve Giesler - Goodbye, Old Friend

2nd Place: Peter Bowe - Blackened Bone

3rd Place: Ashley Wachel - Picture This

Honorable Mention:

    Lennar Strempher - Untitled (Plumed Soldier)

    Aleena Chulanon - Leafy

    Sarisa Chulanon - Smile More

    Yahir Servin - Vuelos

    Leo Peters - Void Fishing

    Calista Schuster - Escape

    Amelia Kolatek - In The Hands Of

    Eve Giesler - Serene Suspension

    Johnny Rodriquez Noyola - Star Baby

    Israel Crawford - Doorway to What?

Congratulations DGN Bands - 2023 Spring Concert

Congratulations to the members of the DGN Concert Band, DGN Wind Ensemble and the DGN Symphonic Band for wonderful performances at the 2023 Spring Band Concert.

A special "bravo" is extended to Allison Waden for her solo performance of Variations on a Theme of Glinka, by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

DGN Fine Arts Outstanding Seniors (Department Award)

Congratulations to the following Class of 2023 students who have earned academic distinction as the "Outstanding Senior in Fine Arts" for their respective disciplines:

Music: Hannah Janka

Theatre: Rebecca Helsdon

Visual Art: Sarisa Chulanon

CLICK HERE to read about each of these outstanding seniors, and their academic distinction within the Fine Arts Department.

Congratulations to the Company of "The Importance Of Being Earnest"

Congratulations, and BRAVO to the entire company of The Importance Of Being Earnest, DGN's 2023 Spring Play! 

D99 Orchestra Concert Thursday Night!

Please join the musicians of the District 99 Orchestra on Thursday, May 11, 2023 for the 2023 District 99 Spring Orchestra Concert! This concert will also feature Senior Concerto soloists, Stephen Cecil (Viola), and Nicole Moravec (Violin).

The concert begins at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High School. The concert is free to attend, and doors open for general seating at 6:30 PM.

The concert will be live-streamed on the DGN Fine Arts Department YouTube Channel, and may be accessed directly using the link below:

District 99 Spring Orchestra Concert

Thursday, May 11, 2023, 7:00 PM CST

Concert Program:

Click HERE.

Livestream Video:

https://youtube.com/live/If2h6NXDOts

Spring Band Concert Tuesday Night!

Please join the musicians of the DGN Concert Band, DGN Symphonic Band and select members of the DGN Wind Ensemble on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 for the 2023 DGN Spring Band Concert! This concert will also feature Senior Concerto soloist, Allison Waden (Oboe).

The concert begins at 7:00 PM in the Clarence Johnson Auditorium of North High School. The concert is free to attend, and doors open for general seating at 6:30 PM.

The concert will be live-streamed on the DGN Fine Arts Department YouTube Channel, and may be accessed directly using the link below:

DGN Spring Band Concert

Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 7:00 PM CST

Concert Program:

Click HERE.

Livestream Video:

https://youtube.com/live/m5VxGsBCKec

Brayer Teague Retirement Concert: Alumni & Friends Band

The DGN Fine Arts Department gratefully acknowledges the many alumni, friends and community members who attended the "Brayer Teague Retirement Concert" on April 29, 2023. 

Please find a folder of photographs, HERE, including images taken with Mr. Teague during the post-concert reception. 

A multi-camera recording may be found HERE. Specific moments of the concert are indexed in the comments section. Click "Show more" to see various chapter links.