Elaina Wang

Senior Petr Kisselev instructs club members on 3D art graphics and coding. “I’m going to be running monthly art competitions, where you have to program your own shader and then submit your [art] for voting to see who has the best one,” Kisselev said. “That will be a way for people to be incentivized to both, [and] also to engage with other people and get inspired.”

Jefferson’s new Graphics Club held its first meeting last Friday, Feb. 13th, 8th period B Block. The Graphics Club is focused on educating and spreading awareness on how computer graphics are made, the code that goes on behind the scenes and the connection between art and STEM.

“Since freshman year, I’ve been wanting to create a community [centered around] computer graphics,” senior and club founder Petr Kisselev said. “I think it’s just something that’s not really represented. The primary purpose of [the Graphics Club] is to spread awareness of computer graphics as something that you can do. There [are] all these other computer clubs, but nothing touches on this aspect.”

Kisselev and his fellow officers faced a multitude of hindrances, despite submitting a club application earlier in the school year.

“I submitted my club application the second day of school to get it started, but the reality is that even when the materials are in, it’s a very difficult task to get the clubs assigned,” Kisselev said. “Teacher sponsors change, and even though I had a sponsor willing, there were some clubs which didn’t have sponsors, [so] my sponsor [needed] to be assigned to one of those.”

During Friday’s meeting, Kisselev presented an overview of the club’s purpose and graphic simpletons and rules. The turnout of almost thirty students listened intently as Kisselev lectured on a multitude of issues and facts associated with computer graphics and art.

“[We plan] weekly lectures on topics, you know, [but in addition,] I’m hoping that I can reach out to some professors and get some guest lectures,” Kisselev said. “While [computer graphics] are somewhat more niche, there’s academic research on [these topics], and there’s a lot of interesting stuff going [on].”

Even though Friday was the club’s first meeting, Kisselev has many plans for the club’s future. 

“In the future, I want this club to continue and [open] a pathway for people to get into this as something they will be passionate about,” Kisselev said. “This is the [club’s] first year, [but] I’m hopeful that even when I’m gone, people will come as freshmen, learn about this club and explore their passions.”

One of the most important things Kisselev is looking for in officers and members is passion. As computer graphics is a niche topic at Jefferson, he hopes to continue his legacy and grow his club.

“It’s this connection between art and STEM, right?” Kisselev said. “While you are using mathematical equations, programming algorithms through computer science, [or] basing yourself on physical equations, you still have artistic control on how you want it to end up. I think that’s something people don’t often see.”