For Sparks High senior Diego Rios, 18, art provides a positive outlet for his sometimes negative emotions.

“It (art) is a chance to ventilate,” Rios explained as he looked up from drawing in an advanced art class. “Most people have their own coping mechanisms. Instead of destroying things, I’d rather create. In the end, you have something to show for it. Destroying things or getting mad gets you nowhere.”

For a few hours on Tuesday, May 11, Rios and other Sparks High students will formally reveal their creative outlets to parents and the community. The school’s gymnasium will be the venue for “A Piece of You & Me.” It could be the school’s first major art show, school principal Doug Parry said on Friday.

Building school pride

Beyond the art show, Rios’ creative passion has made a more lasting impact in his school.

In the “Critics of Society” advanced English class, teacher Lori Farias assigned Rios and other students “to do something to change the world”. Projects included mentoring younger students, volunteering at a hospital emergency room and fundraising to help low-income students attend the school prom. Rios, Juan-Carlos Gomez and Michael Cordova, with assistance from Rios’ cousin Rudy Jimenez, designed an art project to fulfill the assignment. As a result, two new murals in a school stairway illustrate the importance of education, creativity and school spirit.

“They think art can create pride, a sense of community and have a positive impact, especially in our old school that often gets stereotyped negatively,” said Farias of the muralists. “This is their way of improving the students’ self-image.”

The art project included research into the history of murals and their impacts on society. Rios, Gomez and Cordova submitted a project proposal and gained the support of Sparks High administrators.

“They were here all spring break and after school, all on their own time,” Farias said. “When it’s done, I think it’s going to be stunning. Diego, he’s such a perfectionist.”

One mural highlights Albert Einstein with his portrait and a quote: “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” On the opposite wall, a stylized locomotive and graphics illustrate the school’s “railroader” spirit.

“Without art, there would be no color, no life inside the school,” Rios said. “Just walking down the hall, you can see artwork from generations past.”

Diversity in art

On Tuesday morning (May 11), Rios and his fellow students will arrange nearly 300 of their paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography and textiles in the school gym under the supervision of art teacher Audrie Martinez. Metals and woodworking classes are contributing to the show and there will be fashion designs by home economic students, Martinez said. Members of the school symphony will add a background of classical music during the 90-minute exhibition late Tuesday afternoon.

The event was almost single-handedly organized and promoted by Martinez in her first year of teaching at Sparks High. Martinez moved to Nevada after three years as an art teacher in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

“The vast majority (of the art work) is from my beginning art students but I opened it up to the entire school,” Martinez said. She added that much of the show is rooted in one of her art assignments - students were asked to communicate, through written and visual means, “a moment that changed your life.”

“These (art) projects are very intimate. Students had to write a story and tell that story through their paintings,” Martinez explained. “I heard hundreds of stories and it’s something I wanted to share through an art show.”

Parry said the art show is a first in the three years he’s been in charge of the school.

“I think it’s awesome; she (Audrie Martinez) is the mastermind behind it,” Parry said. “We’re excited. It’s a great opportunity for both students and teachers to show off their work.”

“A Piece of You & Me” is open for one night only on Tuesday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium. By Wednesday afternoon, the show will be gone to clear the gym for other activities, Martinez said.

Refreshments at the show will include 10-dozen cookies donated by Madeleine’s Cookies in Carson City. Carlisle Printers of Reno produced 50 promotional posters, at no charge to the school, featuring “Split Identity,” a painting by Sparks High senior Erika Del Rio.

Freeman Decorating of Reno loaned the school 1,600 feet of black drape as a backdrop for the art.

“They (Freeman) saved my life,” Martinez said.

All parents have been invited and the show is open and free to the public.

“I want it to be a community event,” Martinez said.