Some things have changed since Matt McDonald last roamed the halls as an Oakdale High School Mustang 20 years ago. The one thing most notable and most recent would be his recent addition as a staff member at his alma mater.
At the start of the school year, McDonald brought his passion to OHS as the newest member of the Visual and Performing Arts Department. The 1998 alum teaches Visual Arts 1, 2, 3 and Advance Placement Studio.
Now settled into his role as teacher versus student, he is taking his passion for arts and teaching to a level which involves the community. On Friday, Feb. 23 the inaugural OHS Evening of the Arts will be hosted from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the OHS Small Gymnasium. The event is free to the public.
“I wanted to do something more like a real art show that highlighted not only my art classes but others as well,” McDonald said of the event. He noted that a total of 400 students including those active in ceramics, drawing and digital art will have submitted work in the show. All grade levels and varying mediums will be represented.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff to show off,” McDonald said of the student talent at OHS. “I really want to have a cool event that highlights what the students are doing and gives them some recognition for all the hard work they do.”
New to the OHS staff, yet not new to teaching, McDonald shared he hosted a similar event while teaching in Manteca, which was well received by the student body as well as the community. He additionally noted the local showing gives the general community, as well as family members, more of an opportunity to view the local talent, as most county shows are not all inclusive and tend to have low attendance.
“This is also an opportunity to give them (the students) a real sense of what a real art show is really like,” he stated.
The current goal is to have the Art Show set up and completed by the Thursday prior, so students and classes may visit during the day the Friday of the show.
“Increasing student interest in art,” McDonald stated of the goal for the event. “Students who maybe didn’t think they had any ability will be highlighted and surprising themselves and surprising their friends.”
As the son of an artist who was inspired to fulfill his dream, McDonald stated he enjoys a career which allows him to continue to be creative as well as work with students.
As for the campus and returning to Mustang status the art teacher said, “It’s changed a lot, but we have a really good administration that’s been really supportive of what we’re doing. I couldn’t be more grateful.”
