Hundreds of local high school students participated in an event called Artsapalooza at the SRSS Monday night.

Art Teacher Ryan Loeppky says his classes banded together with students and teachers across the choir, culinary, band, drama, and visual arts departments in order to display a wide variety of arts.

However, to Loeppky, the event wasn’t about showing off any particular skills but celebrating the language of art and how it transcends cultural barriers.

“Art is an incredibly close connection to culture and our culture is becoming more diverse every day,” he remarks.

Loeppky says there are many students moving from places like Russia, Germany, or the Philippines who are not as familiar with the local culture but can still thrive in an artistic setting. For this reason, Loeppky believes shows like Artsapalooza play an important roll in unifying the school.

In addition to being relational, Loeppky says the creativity of art can help expand a student’s mind.

“I think art is a language that requires a literacy, just like reading,” he comments. “There are a lot of students who are not able to express themselves through writing or sports, and that’s where art plays an important role.”

Loeppky continues: “My biggest thing is that nobody sits on the bench in art. It’s just awesome people creating awesome stuff."

According to Loeppky, an event such as Artsapalooza is as much a community builder as it is a showcase of a student's individual abilities.