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Display showcases students' artwork
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Tom Antonishak, a Poland resident and sculptor, was on hand at the art show to display some of his work and talk to the guests about how he became a professional artist.
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Sophia Thompson was very proud to see a blue ribbon on her painting of a vase of flowers. Thompson said she was inspired to start her award-winning work after seeing a Vincent Van Gogh painting.
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The art show offered guests a chance to make their own art at the event. Geralyn Brown (left) showed her creativity with her daughter, Kailyn.
By SARAH FOOR
On April 15, the paintings, sculptures, photography and sketches of Poland kindergarten through fourth-grade students found a home at North Elementary.
The district’s Elementary Art Show celebrated the creative process by displaying finished works of art as well as exploring art in action.
Completed works from Dobbins, Union, and North Elementary students were displayed down each long hallway of North Elementary, and mixed media projects from all three schools were gathered in the all-purpose room. Along with the show, parents and families were welcomed to complete a small craft project and meet local Poland artists.
“By inviting local artisans, we hope to expose the students to many different kinds of art,” explained North PTA event chair Melissa Kellgren. “Today, the kids met artists who work with glass, paper, clay, and even MCCTC students studying the culinary arts. We hope the kids see that art is an option to study or make a career out of.”
Tami Johnson teaches art at the three K-4 elementary schools and focused on art forms like painting, sketching and scratch boards this year in her classroom.
“Everything I do is to teach the kids how important it is to express themselves,” Johnson explained. “Our event tonight really celebrates the art of our students now and what they can do with it in the future.”
North student Vada Caliguiri showed her family her art piece that was included in the show, a 3D scene with a tree and a lake.
“I was going to just make a drawing of a tree, but I was inspired to make something more out of it,” she shared of her art.
Sophia Thompson was proud to see a blue ribbon on her painting of a vase of flowers.
“I was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh and I wanted to try a painting that looked like his,” Thompson said.
“The skills of these kids really blow me away,” Kellgren said of the young artists. “The creativity here in Poland is amazing.”