Star Trek on exhibit at school show

Plains High School student Charlie Rehbein considers himself a bona fide Trekkie, which was evident at the school's 2018 Art Exhibition last week when he displayed his "Star Trek Captain's Chair," a rendition of Capt. Kirk's bridge chair on the Starship Enterprise.

Even a "Don't Touch" note on the chair didn't stop some people from asking to sit in it, which seemed to please Rehbein even more. "I am a big fan of Star Trek and I wanted to do something from the show," said the sophomore, who stood by his work and answered questions during the show's opening reception last Monday evening.

The 17-year-old Rehbein was one of 52 high school students to participate in the show, which packed the school foyer Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The exhibit was open to the public Monday evening and during school hours the other two days. Only eight students put their work up for sale, including Malachi Paulsen, whose near seven-inch long metal motorcycle sold for $175 mere minutes after the start of the reception, said Kristen Cole, the school's art teacher.

Rehbein's Enterprise chair was the largest of some 600 pieces in the show. It swiveled, had a variety of prop lights, had a toggle switch, and even sported a slot for a 3 ½-inch floppy disk for the ship's computer. "I couldn't put this up for sale because it has a special place in my heart," said Rehbein, but the sentimentality wasn't because of his love for the 50-year-old show. He worked on the project with his grandfather, Bob Gregg. The two started on the project Thanksgiving week and finished at the end of January. His father, Wade Rehbein, helped him with the electrical parts of the 150-pound chair, which had to be taken apart to get through the school foyer door.

"The chair is so Charlie. He has found a style that shows through in all is artwork, which I have really enjoyed being a part of that process in the classroom," said Cole, who started the art show the first year she began at Plains School 23 years ago. "It is wonderful to have learned he was creating outside of class as well and to have others, family and friends, be apart of that process is pretty special," she added. 

The students at the show demonstrated a variety of art styles: paintings, graphite, wood, metal, colored pencil, ink, ceramic, and several types of 3-D: packing tape, and book sculpture. The teacher plans to add a photography class at the school next year and believes there will be some excellent photos in the 2019 show. Each student had an average of 10 pieces in the show. Pianist Rachel Huenink, a junior, provided the entertainment during the reception.

Cole said it's up to the students whether or not to participate in the annual exhibition, but she had 100 percent participation from all five of her art classes.

The annual exhibition builds the students' confidence and encourages them to be more expressive and it helps them create an appreciation for the arts, according to Cole. It also demonstrates to the public their talents, expression and progress. "It seems to feed a need to create. I always have many more students, elementary and up, bringing in more work for me to critique," said Cole.  

Jessica Thompson, a senior and the only student to be in two of Cole's classes this year, had the most art in the show with 15 pieces. She also had a chair at the exhibit, an old wooden one that she painted in honor of her favorite artist, Leonid Afremov, who deals with brilliant colors in his work. She was especially pleased with her 3-D headpiece depicting the clown from Stephen King's movie "It," which took her about 15 hours to create.

"People have been saying it's really cool, but it's absolutely terrifying," said the 17-year-old Thompson, who's been a Cole student for six years. "She has taken every class I offer, as well as being my teacher's aide for four years," said Cole. "It brings tears to my eyes thinking about it as we have grown close. I'm so excited to see what her future brings as she has talents in many areas."

One of the more unusual pieces at the show was a packing tape self portrait model entered by sophomore Kylee Altmiller. It was a body cast of herself utilizing packing tape and plastic wrap. The students did it as part of class, but Altmiller was the only one who entered her piece. Cole has given the class before, but previously with plaster. She said the packing tape is easier for the students to work with and less expensive.

Cole said she was proud of her students' exhibition work. "There is so much ability in our youth. I believe it is just teaching by guiding them, demonstrating technique, providing a space that they are comfortable creating in," she said. Cole said some of her students are so motivated they continue to work on their projects outside of the classroom, such as Molly Carter, who had several items in the show. "She will paint on anything she can get her hands on. As a freshmen I can remember her coming and asking for sketch paper, not just any size, we are talking large four-foot by six-foot. She can draw amazing at that scale," said Cole, who was also delighted with Malachi's work.

"Malachi's photorealism, as well as his dedication to his art, is so impressive," she noted. "It is rare to see a student his age willing to put in the time he does. I believe we will get to see more as he continues."

Cole is happy that the community supports to the art students. She said people have told her the exhibit gets better every year. "It is wonderful feeling at the end of the year to see all of their success shown in our little Plains High School made gallery."