Students display their creativity

Elementary pupils are included for the first time.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- It's a far cry from a typical high school art show.
The teenagers have a look of determination in their eyes as they drape fabric, arrange plants and hang pictures.
Some wander among the displays, eyeing the work of fellow students.
Still others take time out to relax on futon sofas constructed by juniors Chris Utterback and Jose Gardner.
The 11th annual Niles McKinley Art Show in the high school gym this weekend primarily features the yearlong endeavors of students who centered their creations around a theme from teacher Phyllis Bako -- "Expanding Creative Vision Through Creative Writing."
The public show is open from 2 to 6 p.m. today and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
"They had to write a book and create a character from that book," Bako said as she walked among the displays.
Environment
"From there, they created an environment to go with the story and character," she said.
Each student has his or her own environment, including a recreated bedroom, a tiki hut, a 16 1/2-foot tall snowman face and the exterior of a wooden shack with a pond in front.
Each prominently features a hard-bound book of the student's original story.
Many of the stories feature fairies or imaginary friends, while others are full of fantastic tales. Some students combined their efforts, either having a character cross over from one book to another, or sequels to one another's stories.
Seniors Nathan Wilson, Mike Dunn and Greg Drummond wrote three books centered around a dog eaten by a snowman, who then gains his freedom when the sun starts to melt the snowman, only to ultimately lose out to a snake.
"In the third book, the snake feels bad when he sees the dog eating the melting snowman, so it eats the dog," said Dunn.
In addition to including a stuffed dog and snake in their display, the trio also constructed the giant face of the snowman, tall enough for visitors to walk across his fabric tongue and into his mouth.
"It's the largest display in Niles art show history," the boys say with pride.
Awards
The works are being judged by Johnna Kwon, a professional photographer from Cleveland and a former student of Bako's. Awards will be presented Sunday.
Some students have already received recognition for their work.
Senior Danielle Cicero recently was awarded a $50,500 scholarship to attend the Cleveland Institute of Art, and senior Angela Natoli was awarded a $4,000 Florence Simon Beecher Talent Scholarship from Youngstown State University.
Many of the displays also featured framed awards students won at the Ohio Governor's Regional Art Show earlier this year.
But it's not just high school students participating this year.
Utterback and Gardner included their shop projects -- the futons -- for judging, and other students will display their talents as musicians.
Even younger children are getting in on the action. Elementary pupils from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School are showing their creations for the first time in the annual show.
"It's just a fabulous show," said Linda Rappach, whose 12-year-old son Bobby, a Mount Carmel pupil, has made a name for himself in the local art scene.
Bobby and other pupils have their own section in the gym that features paintings and drawings.
The inclusion of younger pupils this year follows Bako's philosophy of making sure art plays a major role in life.
"If we can encourage them and keep them interested in the arts, that's all that matters," she said.
slshaulis@vindy.com