Mr. Brass brings exceptional training and real, practical experience in the art world to SHDHS. Mr. Brass’ work has appeared as a major installation at the Contemporary Arts Center in downtown Cincinnati and also as part of shows at The Carnegie Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Covington. Mr. Brass is also well known for his portraiture, graphic design work, and web design. He also is the sound technician for all of our major productions and performances here at SHDHS and heads the January Senior Christian Awakening Retreat.

As head of the Visual Arts Department, Mr. Brass has seen the participation in art classes at SHDHS triple. Over 50% of the current student body has included visual art classes in their curriculum. “The arts here at SHDHS are thriving, so much so that it is now a major draw for 8th grade students from our district,” he says. The SHDHS Visual Arts Program offers a wide variety of courses including topics such as printmaking (silkscreen, monotype, collagraphy), fabric work (tie dye, tshirt production), painting (watercolor, acrylic, oil), drawing (graphite, charcoal, pastels, pen and ink), sculpture, and ceramics; also offerings specializing in mixed media, website design, and building portfolios for admission applications to college art programs, as well as Advanced Placement Studio Portfolio and Advanced Placement Art History. There is also an art club, which takes trips to exhibitions in the Tri-State area.

The students participate in school shows, and learn proper art critique focused on relating theme and technique. Mr. Brass focuses on teaching the students to be creative by freeing themselves from their fears and inhibitions, taking the time and care to construct their pieces carefully and skillfully, and learning how to see light, line, and form. “I’ve learned so much about what it really means to be creative and express myself,” says Jenna Seimer ('05). “I can see objects in different ways, and I better appreciate the effort and thought it takes to create a quality piece of art.”