Cal High’s 3-D Art class turns imagination and expression into tangible masterpieces.

The architect behind this outstanding program is first-year art teacher Leanne Tangney.

Tangney comes from a family of artists and musicians with her great-grandfather, who was a California landscape painter and a composer for Walt Disney. This fostered a strong interest in art for her and it was her favorite subject throughout school.

Her passion for art led to her wanting to pursue a career in interior design, like her mother, or attend art school and study graphic design.

But it wasn’t until college that she learned of her desire to teach. She volunteered as a high school youth leader and realized how much she enjoyed working with students, putting her on the path to teach high school art.

“I am so happy to call this place home,” Tangney said. “We have a wonderful art department and selection of creative electives which so many schools don’t have, making our creative community a rare treasure.

Tangney received her bachelor’s in art from Concordia University Irvine and her teaching credential from Cal State Fullerton. She has just recently moved to the Bay Area after teaching art and photography in Southern California at Rancho Verde High School.

The 3-D Art class is an A-G approved art elective open to all grades freshmen through seniors with all levels of art experience.

This year, Tangney teaches two periods of 3-D Art, but she hopes to expand on this with more classes next year.

What makes this class so interesting is the wide variety of materials used to create unique projects.

These varying mediums separate 3-D Art from other art classes by using mediums such as recycled materials and found objects.

The class offers three-dimensional art projects such as creating an animal from paper mâché, a guitar from cardboard, a wire shoe, string art projects, plastic wrap people, and much more.

Students who enjoy creating their own artwork and are drawn to hands-on learning are often attracted to the 3-D Art class.

“I like 3-D art because there are so many different kinds of mediums that you can create a work of art from,” said senior Natalia Balkadin. “It really allows you to find what best fits your personal style.”

In addition to making their own creations, students also study art history and sculpture artists to find inspiration as well.

“Students learn a wide variety of sculptural techniques and how to list and apply those techniques in further projects,” said Tangney.

“What I love most about teaching at Cal is getting to know my students, their humor, creative gifts and unique talents,” Tangney said.

Students from Tangney’s 3-D Art class earned honorable mention recognition for a wire shoe sculpture at the district’s recent Student Recognition Project.

Next year, Tangney would like to create an art showcase at Cal High for all visual arts.

“3-D art allowed me to discover new and unique methods to express myself by creating art out of things I hadn’t thought possible,” said senior Clancy Kraft.