It is well-known to anyone familiar with York that the school carries great esteem in virtually every field under the artistic umbrella. From winning a Grammy award to having professional level stage productions to students earning art scholarships, there really isn’t a sect of the arts that you can’t discover your aptitude for and learn about in incredible depth. In spite of this notoriety, there is a sort of underground art class at York that has probably flown under your radar – at least it did mine – that is well worth your time no matter how many art credits you may have already accrued: Alternative Art.

Offered only in the summertime and taught by Ms. Kuharchuk, who teaches sculpting and ceramics classes during the year in addition to heading Mural Club [you’ve definitely seen their remarkable work around the school], Alternative Art has been one of York’s best kept secrets. It is the only art class at York that doesn’t have the sole focus of a dedicated medium. In the twelve days (that’s a whole semester of content in summer school) that the class meets, it is subdivided into four sort of ‘units’: Water Colors, Acrylic Paints, Spray Paint (seriously: and it’s only in this class’s curriculum), and Pastels.

There are other little nuggets that are also taught underneath those four umbrellas, such as bas-relief, which is a three dimensional sculpting paste used on two dimensional surfaces to create depth , as well as actual learning about art techniques, formats, and idealizing creative strategies.

I absolutely loved my semesters spent in Acrylic Painting and Jewelry with York art pillar and neckwear aficionado Mr. Wolfe, but this diversity can be a great incentive for a lot of students. Many may find it too monotonous to spend an hour every day of a 90 day semester sitting down and doing the same thing with a format they didn’t know if they’d like when they signed up for it; if water colors aren’t your thing, just grin and bear it because in two days you’ll be thrust into learning how to use spray paint. And say spray paint is too edgy or messy for your tastes, the same ideal applies, and you can get back to the traditional paint-to-canvas format that you may end up finding or already know is the artistic method for you. That may be the best part: in twelve days you are able to find out what your favorite vehicle with which to create and express yourself is while becoming versed in many additional avenues.

“The variety is really cool and shows you new techniques; the mediums build off of each other,” freshman Ruben Dragojevic said. “[For example] water colors help blending with things like acrylics.”

As the sole teacher of Alternative Art, Ms. Kuharchuk strongly advocated for this class on the basis of how different it is curriculum-wise than anything else York offers.

“It is way different,” she said. “[Being a summer school course] we don’t have that overnight element of letting our artwork dry for 23 hours, so we have to do a sort of juggling act from one piece to the next while we wait.”

A lot of students cited this variety–working on multiple different pieces and with multiple different mediums each day as opposed to sitting with one project and not moving until it’s done– as one of the top reasons they enjoyed the class.

Senior Maria Muehleis in particular found that wrinkle of the course favorable.

“I like the idea of experimenting with different, exclusive mediums,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about a part you don’t like.”

Stemming from the fact that Alternative Art is a summer school course, the more intimate classroom environment – there’s only nine (!) students in the whole class – also came up as a huge plus when students talked about what they enjoyed most from this class.

“Ms. Kuharchuk is dedicated, easy to talk to, and really helpful,” said senior Maria Muehleis. “There’s a lot less students so it’s more individualized.”

“With a small group, it’s way easier,” Ms. Kuharchuk agreed. “We can do things that you just can’t with a class of 30. Think with stuff like spray paint, we can go outside.”

As a student with no art credits or as one choosing a class to fill that one lingering art slot with in your schedule, alternative art can give you a taste of everything and make that decision go from tormenting to something you don’t have a second thought about. Students in the class say they found an affinity for water colors that they never would have known they had or that they absolutely can’t stand the quick-drying properties of acrylics, and this knowledge will prevent them from wallowing in a semester of it as well as give them a class on their schedule that they know will be a 50 minute sanctuary for them each day.

“I’d say do it, it’s more laidback,” said junior Mason Schacht, on what he’d tell someone on the fence about taking Alternative Art. “You get to experiment a lot. I like the freedom.”

“I get five hours a day to chill and explore my artistic ability,” added freshman Andrea Gurau. “You should take it because you can be yourself. Go crazy and show what you have.”

That haven to be able to really relax and just totally envelope yourself in something you truly enjoy cannot be overstated, especially when you may have four AP courses to worry about.

“It’s quiet and relaxing,” said Dragojevic. “It’s in an ideal environment. You can have fun and do whatever you want with it. You can let your mind take you wherever.”

Whether you graduated eighth grade two months ago or are ten months from walking out of this building for the last time, Alternative Art is a great way to learn about yourself.