Pupils display their talent at Butler

Eighty young artists were honored at the show.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- When she combined a healthy dose of feathers, puff balls, leaves, beads, ribbons and blue eyes, Emilie Fritch came up with "Bob" -- one of the first pieces of art she created for public eyes to see.
"I couldn't think of a name at first," the Champion Central Elementary School fourth-grader said of her creation made largely of recycled materials and shown at the Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave.
"It's very exciting."
Next to "Bob" was Emilie's other piece of art, which was a series of shapes that, halfway through the process, she colored and made into a fox.
Emilie is a pupil in Sandy Ciminero's art class in Champion. She was one of about 80 area youngsters in kindergarten through grade six to receive an award for artwork at Sunday's Steel Valley Art Teachers Association's 16th annual Elementary Art Recognition program.
The show, sponsored by Farmers National Bank, featured art projects by pupils from schools in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. In addition to visual arts, drama, vocal and instrumental works also were represented and recognized.
Twenty-one schools in the three counties were represented; Ciminero was one of 11 art teachers who participated.
Among the pupils' work were enlarged paintings of various food packages by youngsters at Crestview Middle School. Others included sculptures and a painting of Lanterman's Falls in Mill Creek Park.
Musical entertainment
Opening the program for the standing-room-only crowd of a few hundred pupils, parents and teachers were five piano solos by Katie Fernstrom, a sixth-grader at Canfield Village Middle School. Preceding the awards ceremony were violin and piano performances as well as skits by several of the youngsters.
Heidi Swift, SVATA's president, said the annual show is held as part of a Celebration of Youth Art Month. Swift, who teaches visual art at McKinley Elementary School in Lisbon, explained the larger purpose of having an event designed for young children.
"It's an opportunity for young artists in the tri-county area to exhibit artwork to share with their friends, family and community," she said, adding that the youngsters feel proud to see their work alongside paintings and drawings done by famous artists.
"It's an expression of who they are."
The experience also encourages the pupils to show their talents, which boosts self-esteem and self-confidence, the teacher continued.
About teachers group
SVATA is set up to provide art teachers in the region with "professional development opportunities to exhibit kids' artwork in the community," Swift said.
The organization also makes it easier for teachers from various schools to share ideas and collaborate with one another, and SVATA gives its Art Educator of the Year Award to one teacher annually. This year's recipient was Carol Gallo of W.S. Guy Middle School in Liberty, Swift noted.
For more information or to join SVATA, call Swift at (330) 219-8631. Membership is $10 per year.