Bright futures ahead for Troy art students

SCOTT SHINDLEDECKER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 1 week AGO

Troy High School senior Bostyn Marshall displays her embroidery work at the annual art show Monday, May 18, 2025, in the high school gym. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Troy High School freshman Jordan DeHart shows off the shed he built at the annual art show Monday, May 18, 2025, in the high school gym. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Troy High School junior Hailey Dungan chats with an attendee at the annual art show Monday, May 18, 2025, in the high school gym. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

A quartet of students at Troy High School built several chess sets from maple and black walnut trees during woodworking class this year. They included Elijah Garcia, Jelica Caldoza, Claira Folkerts and Ash Madsen. They displayed their work at the annual art show Monday, May 18, 2025, in the high school gym. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Troy High School’s Shelby Davis built a rocking chair out of horseshoes and other pieces of metal in metal arts class. A tanned elk hide made for an impressive combo in the silent auction during the annual art show Monday, May 18, 2025, in the high school gym. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Troy High School’s Addy Cox drew her “Super Dope Raccoon” in Art 1 class, using scratch board as the medium, and displayed it at the annual art show Monday, May 18, 2025, in the high school gym. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Troy High School’s Chase Dehart built a chicken coop in carpentry class. He displayed it at the annual art show Monday, May 18, 2025. Dehart’s creation was sold in the silent auction during the show. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

There’s no telling what the future holds for students at Troy High School, but there was no doubt of their pride in the creations they displayed at last week’s art show.

The annual event is meant to showcase the work of students from elementary through high school. While some may think of art in simple terms that preclude future business opportunities, the event proved that idea was short-sighted.

It featured the works of four seniors, Jenika Meyer, Brooke Place, Salix Harris and Mellissa Laffoon. They met the criteria for the special shows after having completed a minimum of three art classes in high school, according to their teacher, Jeanie Palmer.

Twin brothers Jordan and Chase Dehart not only displayed their building skills in constructing a shed and a chicken coop, but displayed an impressive talent of salesmanship.

For those not inclined to bid on their buildings, the brothers worked hard to convince potential buyers to enter a bid during the silent auction.

One said he wasn’t interested in the chicken coop, saying, “I don’t need chickens, the bears will get them.”

Chase, who built the coop, assuredly replied, “They won’t get into this one.”

An exam of the well-built structure likely proved this to be true.

Jordan, who built the storage shed, had several ideas beyond storage while extolling the virtues of the structure.

Junior Hailey Dungan’s display included nearly 20 pieces of pottery she made since beginning work last fall.

Senior Bostyn Marshall was deservedly happy with her crochet and embroidery work while displaying a number of hand-made items.

Shelby Davis forged an impressive rocking chair made of horseshoes in metal arts class. The item was very popular with those bidding on it. A tanned elk hide was displayed over the rocker to sweeten the deal.

Students in wood working class, Elijah Garcia, Jelica Caldoza, Claira Folkerts and Ash Madsen, built several chess sets, using wood from maple and black walnut trees.

And that was just a small sampling of the impressive art work that filled the gym.

"This show is sponsored and run by the Troy High School art club and included creative student works from many sources, not just the art and pottery classes," Palmer said.

Also, junior high and high school art classes, photography class, textiles and several other classes with creative student products were displayed. New this year was elementary school student art.

Troy High School freshman Jordan DeHart shows off the shed he built at the annual art show Monday, May 18, 2025, in the high school gym. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)

Troy High School junior Hailey Dungan chats with an attendee at the annual art show Monday, May 18, 2025, in the high school gym. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)