Some 2,000 original student artworks will be on display at Righetti High School’s 22nd Annual Righetti Art Show & Chalk Festival, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28 in the school gymnasium.
The event is free to attend.
What sets Righetti’s program apart is its integration into Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways, the school said.
More than a display of talent, the show, which transforms the school gym into a professional art galler, is a capstone industry experience, organizers said.
Students spend the entire school year preparing for this public exhibition, which serves as their final grade.
Beyond creating the artwork, the students are entirely responsible for the professional backend work: curating, matting, labeling, and staging their own displays.
“The students work all year towards this show, and while most of Righetti’s art courses are in a CTE pathway — something that sets us apart — all our courses require this public exhibition as their final grade and industry experience,” said Elesa Carlson, Righetti High School VPA department chair.
“Not only do students learn how to create display-worthy pieces, but they themselves must curate, mat, label, and display their work in the show,” Carlson said.
“Each visual arts teacher is privileged to bear witness to the incredible creativity unleashed in our classrooms on a regular basis; it is certainly my greatest joy. We are inspired by them all the time and wish to share that with you,” Carlson said.
In addition to the art gallery, the event will feature interactive art activities for all ages, photo displays, and a Pizza & Refreshment Fundraiser hosted by the RHS Art Club (while supplies last).
Featured student work includes:
• Award-Winning Shorts from student filmmakers.
• New Ceramics funded by California’s Prop 28.
• CTE Studio Pathway original drawings and paintings.
• CTE Digital Art Pathway graphic prints.
• CTE Theatre Pathway custom scenic art props.
• Advanced Studio mixed-media showcased displays: the 2026 Ian Hassett Foundation Scholarship recipient Kody Turner; and a display highlighting Righetti participants in this year’s 15th Annual Friends of the SM Public Library Painted Chair Event
On Thursday, the festival expands outside onto the school quad for Righetti’s largest group of chalk muralists in school history.
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD) employees are invited to a private daytime viewing, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. to see Artists-in-Action as the 75+ groups construct their live murals.
The completed chalk murals will remain on display for the public during Thursday’s closing night show.