For the eighth graders walking through Pali’s campus during Future Dolphin Night, the talent on display in the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) showcase was more than decoration. It was a pitch. 

On that Thursday night, some families got their first real look at campus. In Mercer Hall, that look included ceramics, paintings, photos and other artistic demonstrations from Pali’s arts classes, comprising the three-day VAPA showcase during the week of April 6.

Organized by the arts department, the showcase sought to spotlight the creativity and expression of students through “a snapshot of their progress,” according to drawing teacher and department chair Angelica Pereyra. Pereyra hoped the showcase would give her students a chance to see how far they’d come.

“I always tell my students that they don’t have to impress me, they have to impress themselves,” Pereyra said. “It’s harder to impress ourselves because we know what we’re capable of, but I hope our students can recognize and be proud of their work through the showcase.”

Pereyra also looked forward to motivating incoming students to join the arts department through her students’ work.

“I hope that students considering coming to Pali see a little part of what they can become, and they’ll get excited about that,” Pereyra continued.

As eighth graders got their first real look at what Pali has to offer, many found the art on display to be an intriguing invitation to join. For eighth grader Sawyer Barber, the showcase made her more confident in her decision to attend Pali next year.

“I love doing cartoons, and seeing everyone’s creativity and expression makes me want to take art classes at Pali,” Barber said.

The showcase also caught the attention of high school students considering transferring into Pali. Culver City High School freshman Hana Rodriguez, who has been contemplating attending Pali next year, felt drawn to the photography skills she saw in the VAPA showcase.

“The photography here really stood out,” Rodriguez said. “I’m in the photography club at my high school, but these photos are on another level. They look professional.”

One of the pieces Rodriguez admired was Eli Konecke’s “Breathing Room,” which recently earned the Award of Merit in Photography at the Tenth District Reflections competition. Konecke, a senior in AP Photography, credited Pali’s resources for his success in producing high-quality pieces.

“I think Pali’s art department is the best in the nation,” Konecke said. “We have a camera for every student, a standalone MacBook for every student, and a dark room and printing area. When I spent a semester at Mira Costa [High School], it was nothing like this…they had three cameras for the entire program.”

The art department’s impact wasn’t limited to what hung on the walls. As the night went on, the showcase shifted from the exhibition to the stage, where the grand finale highlighted Pali’s performing arts. In Mercer Hall, a packed crowd watched as Pali’s advanced dance team performed two routines that drew some of the loudest reactions of the night. The theater department followed with musical numbers from the recently closed spring production of “Rent,” giving prospective families a preview of what the performing arts program has to offer. Meanwhile on the quad, the marching band, jazz band, symphonic band and wind ensemble filled the school with live music that capped off three days of exhibitions.

Eighth grader James Wood, a current member of Paul Revere Middle School’s advanced orchestra and jazz band, is planning to join Pali’s music department next year.

“They’re all in-sync and so capable, and they play together very well,” Wood said. “This just makes me more excited to become a part of the community.”

For eighth grader Anoushka Chatterjee, the performances sweetened the deal. 

“They really made me feel more enthusiastic about Pali,” Chatterjee said. “The energy everyone brought was amazing.”

Similarly, when Konecke first toured Pali, art was a driving factor in his subsequent decision to enroll. 

“I saw these kids molding real clay in their hands with spinning machines in a classroom,” Konecke said, “and immediately I knew that Pali was a community that would push my artistic abilities and preserve that artistic fire everyone needs. I’m proud my art can have that same impact on others.”