Popular art projects such as spin art and creating colorful buttons kept youngsters busy throughout the week at the Arts Alive annual student showcase, March 20 through 24.
With artwork by students from all Escalon Unified School District campuses displayed, high school art teacher Jewell Kelley said the ocean-themed show went off very well.
“Dent was here Monday and Thursday,” she said of the elementary school classes coming in to tour the work and enjoy the hands-on art activities. “Van Allen was here Tuesday, Farmington and Collegeville on Wednesday and El Portal on Friday.”
Some high school students also took the opportunity to tour the show on Friday and Kelley said students from her art classes stayed busy rotating throughout the week to help staff the various activities.
Wednesday night, March 22 all the student artwork was on display for the public to enjoy during the high school’s Open House. Some student artwork was also sold, including a piece by senior Gorette Coelho.
“It is exciting,” Coelho admitted of selling a piece, adding that she was also a little surprised. “It didn’t take too long and it wasn’t too advanced but I think a lot of people really liked it.”
Painted on a piece of wood, it depicts a whale in vertical mode, its nose ready to nudge a diminutive sailboat sitting serenely on top of the water.
“Just seeing everybody’s art, it’s so awesome, the different ideas that they have,” Coelho added of what she enjoyed most about the student artwork from all ages.
Using a short break before another group of young students came through, senior Amanda Aldridge was taking a turn at adding some colorful strokes to a mural that was created during the week.
“That you can do anything that you want with it,” she said of the attraction of art. “I’ve always loved art, I’ve always been able to use it as an outlet for however I’m feeling, it’s just a free outlet, I can do whatever I want with it. There’s no mistakes, only happy accidents.”
Sophomore Isabella Podwinski-Grant said she was happy to spend time with the younger students, helping them with the art projects.
“I guess just seeing their expressions, when they’re getting their face painted, getting buttons or whatever activity they’re doing, they always have a smile on their face,” she said, adding that she vividly remembers doing the same when she was in grade school. “That was the best part of my year; I still have buttons, I still have pictures.”
Senior Autumn Atchley added that she enjoys all types of art and also had fun being part of the crew helping out the elementary students with the art projects.
Along with touring the show, the students coming through were able to do several of the hands-on activities and take those items home. Face painting is always a favorite, and the spin art is a traditional draw as well. This year, they added air brush tattoos, which were a big hit, and Kelley said the show overall was once again a success.
Friday also featured performances by the various music classes, instrumental and vocal, on campus to round out the busy week.
