RUMFORD – For 36 years, Mountain Valley High School art teacher Chris Wing has organized an art show to display works created by her students.

This year’s event, held Tuesday in the high school cafeteria with a background of soft jazz played by the high school jazz band, exhibited works by more than 100 students. Creativity was shown with oils, charcoal, pencil, watercolors, sculpture and other media.

Although nearly two generations have passed since the first, much smaller show, Wing said many of the art themes remain the same.

“Dragons and fantasy have always been there, and I always fight with some who want to create a marijuana leaf,” she said.

Over the years, she said she learned to push students harder.

“I make them work on a project. They are always capable of more. If I taught it, I expect it to be in their paintings,” she said.

Students said they enjoy the art classes.

“I like the variety,” said Phoebe Pike, a sophomore who created a clay sculpture named, “Misery.”

She said Wing assigned her class to create an action figure. Everyone else did something showing happiness.

“Life isn’t always something happy. Sometimes it’s deeper,” said Pike, whose work features a man, painted black, who buries his head in his hands.

Kate Perry created a black-and-white oil portrait of actor and comedian Charlie Chaplin.

“I love him,” said the Rumford junior. “During the summer, I always watch his silent movies late at night.”

Sam Hotham, a Mexico junior, is enjoying his second year in Wing’s class.

“It’s a way to express myself. I really like oils because I can really get into it,” he said.