Norwich students mixes art, politics

NORWICH – Mixing her artistic talent and political sarcasm, one Norwich High School student has depicted the individuals who made a bid for the upcoming presidential election during the past year.

The display of art was in the district art show May 2 and is now in the high school art room.

Upon receiving the school assignment, Junior Alexis Blatcher said it was simple for her to decide what she would pick. “I had to create a series of 12 pieces that all had some kind of connection. I thought, ‘That’s easy, there’s more than enough candidates running for president.’”

In an effort to create the large acrylic paintings the idea of poking fun at the candidates, she said, “was all in good fun.”

Blatcher’s renderings have a political cartoon feel with the text inscribed in a white box below the paintings. The commentary was designed to represent each of the candidates by showing their weaknesses, their agendas or comment on topics that they have spoken of. The portrait of Barack Obama says he “loves” Oprah and the one of John Edwards pokes fun at his “$300 haircut.”