Art Club has been a basic activity within schools for several generations now. The latest club director, Nicole Ingalls, picked up the role after Amy Werner stepped away.
“The connection has also been a huge part of my life,” Ingalls said. “Being the club director just felt natural.”
Ingalls has enjoyed art almost her entire life. Her dad was a farmer, which gave her the ability to problem solve, fix the broken, and tinker with things, which she embraced. She enjoyed woodworking a lot, and it even connected her with her father more. At first, she focused more on sports, including basketball.
“I was actually a basketball girl to my core,” Ingalls said. “A sports injury and surgery landed me in the art room during my freshman year of high school. I never looked back.”
For Ingalls, art became about connection.
“We connect to others, our spaces/communities, nature in general, etc.,” Ingalls said. “It allows exploration of the personal, social, cultural, and historical. For me personally, it’s always provided an opportunity to speak on topics I’m passionate about and open that door for discussion and understanding.”
Her first jobs were more of a way to get around after high school. She worked in industry workplaces such as fast food restaurants, libraries, and other schools. Other than the food and retail fun, she soon started her work, which revolved around the community with a bit of an artistic view.
“At this point, I think it’s safe to say, on some level, I’ll always be creating my work, teaching others, and utilizing art to connect students to their community,” Ingalls said.
Art is very important to her. On many levels, it shows communication and allows people to connect regardless of language, labels and separations people place on themselves.
“It has the ability to bring people together and to bring life to the spaces we occupy,” Ingalls said. “It also has the ability to disrupt the mundane.”
“Art Club is an opportunity to be part of all of that,” Ingalls said. “Some days we make fun stuff, just because. Some days we work together to create a mural. Some days we work on random side missions for other groups at LHS. Some days we create fun crafts with elementary students. Many days, we’re contacted by community members for outside projects. Regardless of the specific project, it all relates back to a sense of connection, participation with community, and taking action in the growth of our shared spaces.”
