Art in the Lobby
Mount Desert Island High School National Art Honor Society
Meaningful Objects
When creating work for the three main exhibitions, students suggest and then vote on themes that
feel relevant, interesting, and important to them. Themes have varied from being very rigid, to
very fluid and open-ended, which has led to many exciting iterations of artwork. Students of the
National Art Honor Society from Mount Desert Island High School spent the past month focused
on the theme of meaningful objects, what those can be, and how to portray them. Harkening back
to childhood bedrooms, old school backpacks, and treasured family pets, these pieces reflect a
sense of importance. Canvases are purposefully identical in size and dimension to emphasize
unity within the pieces and the notion that we all hold certain objects near and dear to our hearts.
The National Art Honor Society (NAHS) is designed specifically for high school students in
grades 9-12. In 1978, the National Art Education Association began the National Art Honor
Society program to inspire and recognize students who have shown an outstanding ability and
interest in art. The NAHS strives to aid members in attaining the highest standards in art
scholarship, character, and service, and to bring art education to the attention of the school and
local area. The MDI High School chapter of the NAHS has run since 2007 and has engaged in
community, school, and virtual projects to promote the Visual Arts. The National Art Honor
Society works on things such as annual exhibits at Island libraries and businesses, as well as
murals and paintings to decorate the halls and classrooms of the school.
Membership is open by application. Any interested sophomore, junior, or senior artist may apply.
Applications open in September each academic year, and all questions can be directed to NAHS
Advisor Flannery Dillon, at flannery.dillon@mdirss.org