Morgan is well known for its various clubs; from Interact, which helps get students involved in the community, to REACT, a club that supports school events during important events and holidays. Amongst these clubs, however, Morgan’s Art Club stands out for its ability to let students express themselves, not just through their voice and peers, but through their ideas and creative skills as well.

The Art Club’s been present at Morgan for a very long time, and is currently being run by Justin Sylvia, Morgan’s current art teacher. The club is usually held after school every Tuesday, lasting from 2:10 to 3:00PM, though Mr. Sylvia hopes in the future that this timeframe could be extended once his schedule clears up.

The club mainly involves, as the name suggests, art, with it pretty much being an open space to create whatever you wish. “I like getting the chance to hang out with my friends outside of school.” Hannah Sharp said, a senior student attending the Art Club. “A lot of them don’t have art classes with me, so I think it’s a nice time to work on projects and stuff with them.”
The club can as well be used to catch up on work and projects from art classes and even classes outside of art, as Mr. Sylvia is very open to people working and hanging out together during art club.

“Sometimes they’ll be continuing their projects they’re doing in class,” Sylvia explained. “Sometimes they’ll use it to do a project for another class, or sometimes they just come in and make something completely from scratch.”

With this in mind, Mr. Sylvia mainly wants to treat the Art Club as an “Open Studio,” or a place where kids should feel free to express themselves however they wish. “You can do painting, acrylics, you can make sculptures and even jewelry.” Nikky Zhou explained, another senior student attending the Art Club. “Everyone here is super friendly, and if you need help you can always talk to others. And if you need help finishing up work from classes or just need extra help, you can always do that.”
The club can also be used as an opportunity to get one on one help with projects for Mr. Sylvia’s classes that you may not normally get during class time, which can not only help you with support and ideas for your work, but gives a more personal experience that’s able to let you concentrate and focus on your projects.

“In my classroom, I have lessons planned that are sort of structured routines and standards that I need to uphold,” Sylvia said. “Whereas Art Club can be much more independent and personal to each student, so it’s a much better opportunity for creativity and free expression.”

Most of the Art Club’s policies come from the aforementioned Mr. Sylvia, who has been a teacher at the Morgan school on and off for some time. Sylvia first started at Morgan in 2017 until 2019, and later came back to teach at Morgan in 2023 until now.

Mr. Sylvia first got his passion for art during high school, where he felt pretty aimless on what kind of career he’d want to take on during his life. “I did not necessarily know what I wanted to do,” Sylvia said. “I didn’t know what my strengths and weaknesses were, I was definitely one of those kids who kept to myself a lot.”

That was until his art teacher gave him a reward for showing excellency in art, which inspired Mr. Sylvia, who took up various art classes going into college; where he found a love creating, teaching, and making art for others. “I took more art classes, more studio classes, and art history classes.” Sylvia explained. “And really fell in love with it there and figured out that that’s what I wanted to do, I wanted to teach it.”

After learning much about art during college, he later took his skills and knowledge to the Morgan School, where he taught art in various mediums for many years. “I like the fact that we can make anything we want.” Chloe Allen said, a senior member attending the Art Club as well. He lets us explore all kinds of different mediums of art, like painting and sculptures.”
And with his studies of art, he’s also taken the time to teach students about the many different cultures surrounding art such as the Australian Natives Aboriginal pieces, and the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang, which is able to show students different aspects and ideas of art, while also teaching them to respect and honor different cultures through their own self-expression.

Sylvia’s teaching skills don’t just apply to his classes however, as in art club, he’s able to show off his true passion for art and care for his students by supporting them when needed, or giving them suggestions and ideas for their pieces to be the best they can be.

His favorite part about art club, however, is seeing kids that are usually quiet or shy in his classes be expressive and outgoing during Art Club, where they seem to be more comfortable around like-minded students and peers. “As soon as they come in and they’re kind of amongst their friends and other like minded individuals, their personality starts to come out.” Sylvia said. “And it’s often time shown in their art as well because they don’t feel held back.”

Sylvia has taught at Morgan for a while now, making sure students are able to learn about art and feel like they belong. Because while he is a teacher, he wants to make it clear to students that they’re able to express themselves freely without worry, whether that be through art, your friends, or even yourself.
“Don’t forget to make something today, make something beautiful today. Enjoy what you’re making today, even if it’s not intended for anyone. Even if it’s just for you, just make it,” closed Sylvia.