Kids & Family

Video: Fremd HS Student's Incredible Tribute to Fallen Art Teacher

Going viral! This YouTube video of Fremd High School senior Maddy Lopez's speed painting of her late art teacher Lewis Hubbard has received nearly 49,000 views as of Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Senior Maddy Lopez brought the Fremd High School Variety Show audience to its feet and to tears earlier this month when she created a 7-minute speed painting of her favorite art teacher, Lew Hubbard, who died suddenly of a heart attack at age 58, just before the start of this school year.

A YouTube video of the presentation has received more than 49,000 views as of Dec. 17, and comments of praise for Maddy's touching tribute to a humble man the students affectionately called "Hubbs."

"She was the only act to get a standing ovation all three nights," said Maddy's mom, Diane, of the variety show, held Dec. 5, 6 and 7. "Even people that did not know Maddy or Mr. Hubbard were moved to tears."

Mr. Hubbard, a husband and father of three, not only taught at Fremd, he was an instructor at the American Academy of Art, taught summer school art at Stevenson High School, lead a watercolor class at Lake Zurich's Mainstreet Art Center, and had his own art studio, according to his school bio.

A fitting tribute

A power point presentation explaining how Mr. Hubbard influenced Maddy runs simultaneously as she paints.

In her presentation, Maddy writes that she had spoken to Mr. Hubbard last summer about doing something different for the variety show, such as speed painting, but she didn't know what her subject should be.

"What would I paint? What would be important enough to paint on a 5-foot by 6-foot canvas?"

Teacher and student agreed to talk about it again once school started. Tragically, Mr. Hubbard passed away on Aug. 11, 2013.

While attending her teacher's funeral, Maddy said it became obvious who her subject would be—her teacher, mentor and friend, Mr. Hubbard.

"Mr. Hubbard was important to me. His image will always have meaning."

Maddy, an accomplished artist, student leader and honor roll student, graduates this spring. She wants to become a registered nurse and serve in the U.S. military.


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