By SaBriNa Pickett
Staff Writer
Art is a subject that allows the mind to flourish with ideas. This subject requires a certain instructor who knows how to build
and foster creativity in others.
Ceramics and Advanced Placement studio art teacher Peggy Zask is retiring after 18 years of teaching at Mira Costa. Zask has promoted art on campus through the courses she has taught.
“Zask is an incredible teacher and educator who has taught me things about ceramics and art that I would not have learned if I wasn’t exposed to her
teaching style,” junior Christine Chuang said. “She has really helped me improve my perspective on art.”
Zask gives her students as much freedom as possible with assignments which, according to her, allows students to fully express themselves artistically. She had her students paint the various murals on campus.
“Everyone is not going to like every piece of art that you create,” Zask said. “In order to be a successful artist you need to be able to understand this and not let it affect your work.”
Zask is an artist herself and owns a gallery in Palos Verdes that features contemporary art called PS Zask Gallery. The gallery features her works along with the works of other artists in themed exhibits. Zask also works on wheels and kilns that she has in her home.
“I’ve always liked working on the wheel,” Zask said. “I try to teach my students to keep their arms steady because it takes a lot of practice and skill.”
Zask is also a skilled sculptor and likes to express her ideas through the image of horse sculptures. Her work is up for interpretation by the viewer.
“Zask’s sculptures are amazing,” junior Jennifer O’Brien said. “It’s very hard to master abstract art, and all of Zask’s sculptures can be interpreted in so many ways.”
After retiring, Zask plans to spend time sculpting and working on the wheels and kilns at her home. She also plans to tend to her gallery more frequently and feature more exibits. Despite her departure from Costa, Zask will continue to explore her love for multimedia art.
“I will always be around art,” Zask said. “It’s something I have a huge passion for, and it will continue to be a part of my life after teaching.”
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