The Magnolia School District held its District Art Show from May 5 through 8, with this year’s theme being “An Appetite for Art.” Art pieces from every grade were out for display at the District Art Show, including pieces from Walter Pre-Kindergarten.
A wide variety of 2D and 3D art pieces were displayed, with most of the pieces following the theme. Art II and AP Art Teacher Laurie Hicks stated that all of the art teachers get together during the summer to select the District Art Show’s theme for the upcoming school year and create their curriculum around that theme.
Hicks stated that some pieces would not follow the theme because of what the students need to learn throughout the year. One such example are the 3D hands that elementary students drew with colored pencils.
“We are happy to have an Art Show this year since we didn’t get to have one last year,” said Hicks. “The kids were wanting to have the Art Show so bad. They kept saying, ‘I hope we have an art show’ and thankfully we did.”
Most of the large structures that held the art pieces were built by the district art teachers and art intern Megan Reyome. Reyome, a senior at Magnolia High School, works as an intern in the department during the afternoon school hours. She said the decorations that lined the walls were also made by her and the district art teachers. Central Elementary teacher Gary Herron built the frame for the “An Appetite for Art” display that visitors saw at the entrance.
“The district art teachers worked collaboratively on this and it is such a great program here,” said Art I Teacher Bonnie Wood. Reyome added that the same could be said for the whole school district.
The District Art Show isn’t the only opportunity for students to display their pieces this year. Wood said Magnolia Arts is hosting its 70th annual Sidewalk Art Show on May 15 during the Blossom Festival on the Courthouse Lawn. The art show is open to youths in Pre-K through 12th grade with a Best in Show award for each grade.
“Usually, we have students who can take their art and enter it, but since there’s not going to be any 3D art this year, we’ve had discussions about putting some of that in the window at Magnolia Arts,” said Wood. “It wouldn’t necessarily be entered in the contest, because it is only 2D this year, but we are thinking about showing off some of the ceramics and paper mache projects in their window.”
The Sidewalk Art Show will feature one original piece from each student that enters, with $350 in youth cash prize awards along with the best-in-show categories.