Darren Salomon
2024 Christmas ornaments created by art club members
At John F. Kennedy High School, the Art Club is more than just a place to paint and sculpt—it’s a community of students who come together to express their creativity and work on fun, hands-on projects. Led by Mr. Casey Cooper, an art teacher at JFK, the club provides a welcoming space for anyone interested in art, whether they are experienced artists or just starting out.
“Basically, what we want to do is just have people come in with creative minds,” Cooper explains. “The club is all about collaboration. We work on things like designing T-shirts or making Valentine’s Day gifts that we can sell and raise money for the club.”
The Art Club meets every other week, with each session offering a mix of brainstorming, creativity, and hands-on projects. According to Cooper, a typical meeting is when the group discusses what they want to do that day. After a brief planning session, the students get to work on their chosen projects, whether that’s designing a new club T-shirt, making ceramic ornaments, or experimenting with different art techniques.
“We try to make it fun and student-driven,” he says. “I’ve had students come to me with ideas like, ‘Hey, sir, what do you think about doing this for the art club?’ And we run with it. It’s really all about what the students want to do.”
One of the most popular projects in recent years has been creating ceramic Christmas ornaments. Cooper says this annual activity has become a beloved tradition for the club.
“By far, the Christmas ornaments are the most memorable,” he says. “We get some really creative ones each year, and I love seeing how the students’ ideas grow over time.”
This year, the club is aiming to create heart-shaped tiles for Valentine’s Day, where students can choose a name to be written on the heart, with the option to buy them as gifts.
“It’s a fun way for people to get involved and support the club,” says Cooper. “Plus, I’m really excited about the T-shirts. We’ve got a screen printer, and I think it’s a great way to make money for the club and show school spirit.”
Despite the creative energy that fuels the group, the Art Club does face challenges. One of the biggest obstacles, according to Cooper, is a lack of participation.
“It’s usually the same 8 or 10 people showing up, and while they’re all amazing, it would be nice to see more students get involved,” he says. “I really think the club could be so much more if more people gave it a chance.”
To promote the club and its events, Cooper and the club members rely on word of mouth and announcements made by the principal, Jessica Husband, who is a big supporter of the club. Posters are also put up around the school to spread the word.
“We try to get the word out in as many ways as possible,” says Mr. Cooper. “But honestly, it’s the students who really help make it happen. It’s a lot of community support.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Cooper hopes to collaborate with other school clubs, like the Auto Club, to expand the club’s reach. “I’ve talked to the Auto Club about possibly working together on a project,” he says. “There’s a lot of overlap with art and cars, whether it’s designing speaker boxes or customizing shift knobs. It could be really cool.”
For now, the JFK Art Club continues to thrive as a place where students can explore their creativity, share ideas, and support each other.
“The best part is watching students come together and express themselves in a way they may not have before,” says Mr. Cooper. “I’m proud of what we’ve built, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for this club.”