The wide range of colors reflected in paintings and sculpture were a sharp contrast to the dreary, gray weather on the night of the annual Northwestern Lehigh High School art show.

A variety of works spotlighted the high school’s best artists and artisans in a range of charcoals and paint, ink and metal and paper and mixed media. Some 400 works were on display.

Kathy Kehs, high school art teacher, commented on the display.

“About 200 were two dimensional, [such as] drawings, paintings, and calligraphy,” Kehs said. “The others were from the ceramics class and 3D class, sculptures, such as sculpted books and trompe l’oeil projects,” items that trick the eye into thinking they are the real thing, such as hamburgers and other food products.

Librarian Tam Fitzgerald also commented.

“I’m glad we have it here in the library because I get to see the different reactions when kids come in with their classes,” Fitzgerald said.

“For instance that spoon mirror. Who would have ever thought you could so something like that?”

German teacher Jan Sutermeister brought her classes to the library to view the art show.

“It’s so important [for students] to see what their classmates do outside of academic classes which adds a part of their personality you don’t see in the classroom,” she said. “[The works] show a different part of who you are.”

Student Emily Witt discussed art classes.

“Aside from regular academics, art class is a way to express yourself differently,” Witt said.

“Creativity and imagination [are important] and art classes really help me explore [both of them].

Kehs provided additional thoughts.

“[The art show] highlights the work for all the courses,” Kehs said.

“Some of the basic stuff is in and then there are the finales.”

She also noted that in addition to showcasing the works, the art show demonstrated students’ growth over time.

“A lot of the pinch pots were [displayed] and they were the first clay products students made,” she said. “It [was] funny to see them wedge clay for the first time but you could tell they were confident by the end of the year.”

Kehs said although the students could request to put their artwork in the show, the majority was selected from projects they did during the year.

“Everyone who came in was asked to vote. The top three winners in each category earned gift cards to Dick Blick or Hobby Lobby,” Kehs said.

Fitzgerald said it was very difficult to pick the people’s choice award as there were so many fabulous works.

“I wanted to take an art class since freshman year but didn’t have time in my schedule,” Witt said. “I didn’t think I’d be that great at it but one summer I started sketching and painted and my parents encouraged me. I wish I would have taken more.”