Students interpret words through art

by Donna M. Webb
Grand Island Dispatch, May 18, 2007

There’s an old saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words.” No doubt that was in the minds of the Grand Island School District’s art faculty when they chose the theme for this year’s district-wide show of work done by students in grades kindergarten through 8. This display, entitled “Art Inspired by 1,000 Words,” began on Monday, May 14, in the Viking Mall at the high school and continued throughout the week.

The pieces are based on something the students read, according to Middle School art teacher Nora Klein, and that could include a quotation, a story, or pieces of poetry. Peter Sloan, art instructor from Huth Road School, explained that this show is always held in the middle of May and added, “It takes us that long to accumulate enough artwork for it. We choose a different theme each year.” Neither teacher knew exactly how many pieces were on exhibit. However, Sloan said he had sent out 149 invitations to the families of the Huth Road Elementary School students whose works were chosen for display. Since the art show also represented students from Sidway, Kaegebein, and Veronica Connor Middle School, it’s safe to say that several hundred pieces were available for viewing. Many parents attended with their children, searching for their own special artistic endeavor.

Sloan noted that in addition to Klein and himself, the following art teachers helped to set up the show: Theresa Barnack (Sidway), Alexann Incao (Kaegebein), and Andrew Dulak (Middle School). “It’s quite an undertaking,” Sloan said; and Klein added, “It takes us a whole day to set up.”

Various media were on display. Sidway’s first-grade students made silhouetttes of their faces on black paper and then made a collage on top of that with magazine pictures and words they found in print. Kindergarten students drew pictures of their favorite places and then arranged small pieces of paper around the drawings to give them a quilted look. They were inspired by a story called “Tar Beach” by Faith Ringgold. She is an artist who incorporates stories within her quilts and paintings.

The art show also contained sculptural reliefs, which were made by fifth-grade students using discarded books. Some fourth-graders painted bright yellow sunflowers in the style of Vincent Van Gogh. Others created collages from French newspapers, stamps, maps, sheet music and odds-and-ends like buttons, feathers, and keys.

Photography was the medium of choice for seventh-grade students at the middle school. Students chose a quotation that personally inspired them and then took a photo of a scene they set up to illustrate that quote. Using Apple computers, the students digitally cropped and enhanced their photos to give more meaning to the message contained in the particular quotation. For instance, seventh-grader Manraj Grewal took a photo of a boy ready to shoot a basketball. The words below the picture were those of Michael Jordan: “I can accept failure, but I can’t accept not trying.”

Eighth-grade students drew pastel flowers as they emulated the works of American artist Georgia O’Keeffe. A quotation from her was hung near the students’ renditions; and it read, “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment.”

This “art inspired by 1,000 words” was a diverse exhibition that showcased the many talents of Grand Island students.