VIDEO: Seekonk High Explodes With Art Thanks to Senior Project

was bursting at the seams with art on Monday for ‘Afternoon with the Arts,’ an event organized by Zach Holme as his senior project. Holme worked with art teachers to coordinate visual arts displays around the school and organized a mid-day talent show that featured more than a dozen students, a handful of teachers and some recent alumni.

Holme, who heads to New England School of Photography in the fall, said he wanted “to give students multiple ways to express themselves and display their talents” and also showcase the hidden talents of the teachers.

“Mrs. Hellmold, Mr. Rubin and Mr. Miller are all performing in the auditorium portion of the event,” Holme said. “I think it will be really interesting for students to see some of the faculty in a different light that totally wasn't expected.”

Holme’s photographs were on display in the library as part of a student exhibition that included everything from a paper dragon made of 400 torn pieces of paper to t-shirts to ceramic vessels.  African masks that looked like the real deal adorned the display cases, while painted sculptural words added a “pop” element to the show.

Teacher and student performances in the talent show drew both tears of laughter and tears of sadness from the audience.

Health teacher David Rubin and his colleagues poked fun at themselves and the students with skits that parodied daily classroom life. Two members of heavy metal outfit Slaying Mantis, Zach Rice and David Daniel, rocked the crowd their guitar work, while three-piece outfit “Color Blind” kept it slightly groovier, but no less rocking, with acoustic guitar, hand drums and powerhouse vocals.

Teacher Gary Miller received a standing ovation for his moving rendition of Josh Groban’s ‘To Where You Are,” a song he dedicated to Karen Stone and Jake Mayo, two members of the school community who died in the past year. And members of the newly formed Musical Arts Society sang and danced to “Candle” by White Tie Affair. Overall, there were a dozen performances, including Holme and his friend Jon Howard covering the Counting Crows song “Mr. Jones."

“It’s awesome. Even some of the shyer kids are stepping up to the plate,” said Sophmore Tori Coelho.

Holme seemed to thoroughly enjoy his ever-changing role as event organizer, emcee (along with Justin St. George), and musician, though photography will remain his first love.

“I've always been told and believed in the idea that if you do something you love you never have to work a day in your life,” he says. “This is why I have chosen to pursue my passion for photography, in planning to create that dream career that never loses my interest and is always so fun and fulfilling for me.”

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