Exhibit tries to fill artistic gap
Some of the winners of the Carmichaels Women’s Civic Club “Arts Cupboard” exhibit Feb. 4 were, back row, from left, Michael Ludrosky, Calyssa Lavery and Mollie Jo Ehrlichman and, front row, Bailey Barnyak and Victoria Enci.
Beth Cree stands with her three blue ribbons for art, photography and poetry.
CARMICHAELS – The annual “Arts Cupboard” exhibit is helping to fill the artistic gap for Carmichaels Area students left from the ongoing state budget stalemate and uncertainty about future education funding.
The Feb. 4 exhibit sponsored by the Carmichaels Women’s Civic Club offered up 27 works of art, photography, poetry and short stories from students that were displayed at Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church in Carmichaels.
Although art class has been dropped from the weekly rotation for Carmichaels elementary students this year because of the budget constraints, kids still find time to do it, second-grader Bailey Barnyak explained while holding her first place drawing of a cozy home with a mailbox in the foreground and shadows carefully rendered on the snow.
“I like art and I do it at recess,” she said. “Sometimes, our teacher does it with us even when we don’t get to do it because we don’t have art class any more.”
New elementary school Principal Fred Morecraft was at the show to support the kids and touted his appreciation for their creativity.
“Art gives kids experiences,” he said. “How do you know unless you try it?”
Morecraft’s own talents include working with wood and writing and illustrating books for his children.
Working art into lesson plans is the direction teachers have taken this year and a “really great” parents’ council is helping bring art projects and instructors into the school, Morecraft said.
Carmichaels Superintendent John Menhart lamented dropping art from the weekly rotation and was unsure if or when it would return because of the continued uncertainty over school funding from the state.
“There’s so much uncertainty at the state level, I can’t see it happening in the near future,” he said.
Menhart said he supports the enrichment programs that come to the school and In lieu of a weekly art class and “we try to supplement it and assure the teachers do what they can in the classroom.” The room that was once used for elementary art is now used as an all day program for district preschoolers. This jumpstart on kindergarten has proven educational value, Menhart said.
“We need to reach all children in the district early and get them ready to learn,” he said.
And to help with that effort, he praised the recent “Arts Cupboard” exhibit as a way to get children interested in art.
“We’re so appreciative of everything the community does,” Menhart said.
The kids also seemed to enjoy themselves.
Sixth grader Victoria Enci, the first place short story winner, even received a bouquet of roses from her proud family. First place poet Mollie Jo Ehrlichman was ready for her reading as the winners were called up to accept their awards and tell the crowd of parents, friends and siblings.
In November, Warhol Museum educators brought hands-on silk screening to 3rd graders and a grant through the Monon Center in Greensboro paid for an instructor to teach enameling. The Wow Factory from Morgantown, W.Va., helped students learn to tile and a butterfly sculpture was made that will be installed this spring in the school garden.
“We try to do projects that pull the creativity out of kids,” Morecraft said. “You never know what they’re going to get into that will excite them.”
Creativity teaches problem solving and decision-making, skills that are needed in today’s world of technological innovation, speaker Linda Winegar, herself a professional artist pointed out.
“This is what industry is looking for,” she said. “You can make a career out of being creative.”
As the art evening drew to a close, one last winner, fifth grader Beth Cree came in, flushed from a basketball game and limping badly from a freshly injured knee. The group photo had already been taken but she was still able to manage a smile and pose with her first place ribbons for photography, art and poetry.
First place winners will have their work sent on to be judged at the district and state level of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, show organizer Susan Martin said. Beth took third place at the state level last year, she said.
“We love giving our children a chance to shine,” Martin said.