Austintown students showcase art at Creative Arts Night
AUSTINTOWN
Fitch students showed off art at the third annual Creative Arts Night.
The event, in its third year, stems from an elective course, Life Literature, taught by Steve Ward.
Ward, also teacher of senior English and adviser to The Talon newspaper, credited the efforts put into the event entirely to the high-school students putting their artistic skills of all kinds on display.
Students from woodshop classes, choir programs, drama clubs, literature classes and more made exhibits of what was art to them at the high school on Thursday evening.
Ward said much of the staff jumped on board after he brought up the idea. Together, staff and students donate their time to support the arts during the annual event.
“There is such an abundance of talent in our students, so we thought, what’s the best way to showcase all of their talents,” Ward said. “We don’t give enough credit to the arts. ... Every student needs an outlet or a way to express themselves. I really like taking learning out of the book and applying it to real life.”
Bill Klein, director of vocal music, said he was happy not only to give choir, drama club and various music programs exposure, but also to display all of the fine- and performing-arts programs Austintown has to offer.
“It was cool to finally be a part of it this year,” Klein said. “It’s an awesome event, and Steve does a great job with it.”
Various clubs and organizations put their work on display for students and parents, encouraging them to be a part of it.
In addition to clubs displaying the art of their organizations, there also were activities available for younger students to have fun with.
Ward said his 6-year-old daughter had just finished getting her nails done and getting pictures taken with some friends.
He said it was important to appeal to younger students as well as current high-school students. Middle-school students were the main target, Ward said, to show them the creative programs Fitch has to offer them.
Haley Kovach, junior and co-editor of The Talon, said she found art aspects in journalism by using visual elements to attract readership.
“It really is an art because [of] the amount of pictures we use to bring the story interest to more readers,” Kovach said.