Students make their mark for National Dot Day

Last week, the Gloucester High School community came together to celebrate National Dot Day.

During both lunches, the National Art Honor Society, with the help of GHS students, created a bright display inspired by the national holiday.

The inspiration for the event was derived from the picture book “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds. The book follows a young girl named Vashti. Without motivation, she sits in front of a blank piece of paper, not able to draw or color in art class. The teacher encourages her to just make one mark; she does so, and from her one mark comes inspiration. She draws and colors, and soon her art is being hung all around the classroom.

The NAHS encouraged students to make their mark on the board, symbolically placing their mark on the school. Each student used a dot pen to create art on a large white board and place their name next to it. 

“I think it’s great, especially at the beginning of the school year, for student to make their mark, not only in my classroom but also in the school,” Art teacher and NAHS advisor Lorrinda Cerrutti said. 

The NAHS chapter was also inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s remarkable dot creations.

“It was very interactive with the students and something we haven’t done before,” NAHS Secretary Velia Wrinn said. “In the future, we want to focus on inclusivity in the arts and teaching that you can be an artist without having a huge amount of skill in the arts.” 

GHS students placed their mark down, took a chance at life, and saw what unexpected pleasure and joy would come from the small gesture.