This inspiring environment gives off many creative vibes. From time to time, the art changes. In fact, the gallery displays all sorts of mediums to depict the styles of Pacific Northwest artists willing to submit and display their personal art exhibits.
It's the Helen S. Smith Gallery, located right inside the Holman Library building and it is open throughout the year.
The Helen S. Smith Gallery is named after a former member of the Green River Board of Trustees and an important member of the Green River Foundation. Smith was a strong art advocate and she earned the Art Service Award. Smith was very supportive of the idea of having art in the community, thus she was a strong advocate for the Interurban Center of the Arts.
Every other year the faculty put their styles to the test on in the gallery. During Spring Quarter, art professors organize the gallery with the different sections of art taught on campus to display works from the creative hands of their students.
Paul Metivier is the current gallery director. He is the man that makes everything run smoothly in the gallery. Metivier mentioned that he is in charge of a lot of things with the duty of director and personal relations.
He organizes all the shows, helps manage the committee reviews for the artwork shown in the gallery, takes care of small maintenance like dusting, and does all the special effect lighting. Metivier is also the ceramics and pottery instructor at Green River.
"I think the gallery shows what really goes on in each of the classes…from the beginners to the advanced students. The gallery is a way to create an artistic atmosphere," art gallery director, Metivier said.
"I like how the lights give the room depth. The students' art is great. It shows that GRCC is full of talented students. It's nice to have a gallery with pupils instead of famous dead artists," 20 year old student from Federal Way, De Naja' Sakaii Handy, said.
Many classes are available for students looking for a way to relax or express themselves. Spinning the pottery wheel and then glazing the almost finished product makes for a great piece of pottery or ceramics.
"Pottery was my favorite class; I took two quarters of it. If you need help in the class there are other students and the professor there to provide you with a world of information," Running Start Saeward Schillaci said. Schillaci is planning on majoring in agricultural science.
Some students like to look at things and put them together, in shapes and forms that would be unthinkable to the average person. The two-dimensional and three-dimensional classes are a way for students to make unique things out of other objects.
"Three-dimensional design is much more fun because everything is in my own time and much more personal, plus the projects are fun," said 18 year old Running Start student Tasha Hobbs.
Hobbs is planning on attending Cornish College of the Arts in the fall and plans to be a starving (or not so starving) artist for the next few years.
Sketching and drawing is another way students at Green River like to express themselves through pencils and a sketch pad.
"I took introduction to drawing with [Professor] Cindy Small, she is awesome. Drawing really opened my eyes to perception of the way shadows fall and depth in a picture," 17 year old full-time Running Start student Jordan Bye said. Bye is planning on pursuing a degree in architecture.
Green River also offers a fabulous photography program, where many students find their niche and establish a lifelong hobby.
"One of my favorite parts about my experience at Green River was the fantastic photography program. It helped me to realize a talent I never knew I had," Chief Justice of the Student Government, Patrick Reeves said.
With the stroke of a paintbrush, acrylic or watercolor artists can paint a picture in the minds of many. Taking painting can brighten any canvas.
"My favorite part about painting class is being able to relax and enjoy myself while I get some good artwork done. Plus it's not a very demanding hobby. Painting affected me by helping me to realize what I want to pursue my career in, graphic design," Green River student Alex Schloer said.
Many forms of art are available for student enrollment. When students get a chance to enroll in such classes such as ceramics, pottery, drawing, two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, painting, and photography, they develop a personal touch and an artistic feel for ideas they had no idea that they had in them to produce.
Whether you like to sketch, sculpt, combine small things to make big new inventions, paint, or snap photos; one thing is the art program at Green River gives a sense of creativity in every artistic form.
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!