Student’s artwork on display at Beard Center

Monday’s Newton Community School Board of Education meeting was focused mainly on business, but there was time before the agenda to shed light on a young artist.

Newton High School student JiaHao Zheng was recognized for his 3-D artwork, which is displayed at the EJH Beard Administration Center in the lobby.

Zheng is a senior in his first year at NHS. He enrolled in a 3-D art class taught by Ruth DenHartog this fall, and it became immediately clear that the senior was bursting with creativity.

“The first project we had, he asked me if he could do something on his own,” DenHartog said. “And he just really excelled at that.”

DenHartog said Zheng asked to take his second project home to work on it. With his teacher’s blessing, Zheng got to work and ended up making a tiny, but realistic-looking, piano out of plastic. He also created a small guitar that measures only a few centimeters.

“He came back with this little piano, and he continued to thrive and excel,” DenHartog said. “He’s a talented young man.”

Zheng is the first person to have his artwork displayed at the administration building. He moved with his parents to Newton from New York last summer. His family is originally from China and has been in the United States since Zheng was 9 years old.

The Newton senior was humble and told the board it was a pleasure to have his work displayed. His passion for art started with sketches and drawings, but he now has a fondness for making models, too.

One of the pieces on display is a self-portrait sculpture made of clay. Also included is a piece entitled, “Bee Gees,” which depicts three bees singing together. From a distance, it’s hard to make out the singing bees. But upon closer investigation, careful attention to detail was executed to finish the project.

“For my artwork, I like to make models and do some other things with plastic at home, just like the piano and guitar here,” Zheng said.

Zheng was joined by his grandparents, who just arrived in the United States last month. He plans on taking more art classes later this year.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” Zheng said. “It just makes me satisfied.”

Contact Justin Jagler at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jjagler@newtondailynews.com