On May 9, The Rye Arts Center hosted the opening reception for “One Theme, One Composition,” featuring works created by Rye High School advanced placement art and design students taught by Bendis Mani. The show features works in a variety of media and design styles by 21 students, some exhibiting multiple works.
The students are enrolled in two different courses: AP 2-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing, which correspond to college and university level courses. Advanced Painting and Drawing teaches students the basic techniques and thematic composition in both traditional and contemporary painting and drawing and then expands to a more in-depth study of the elements of arts and principles of design.
The students investigate traditional and non-traditional materials, take bigger risks and experiment more freely with different media as they build up their profiles.
The AP course is intended to encourage independent study through practice, experimentation, and revision, using traditional and non-traditional materials while at the same time helping the students developing a body of independent, college-bound-level work.