Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Like the colors of a rainbow, students' artworks were displayed at Edgewood Middle School for all to see Thursday night.
During "An Evening with the Arts," parents, family and friends had the chance to see drawings, paintings, sculptures, model cars, quilts and more by EMS seventh- and eighth-graders while the choir performed in the commons.
Art teacher Sherri Johnson said that while elementary and high school students have opportunities to show their work, there really wasn't anything for the middle schoolers. Wanting to give the students a chance to show off their work and gain confidence in their talents, she approached music and choir teacher Dan Beam about "An Evening With the Arts."
"He was very enthusiastic," Johnson said.
"The one key thing," she said, "is it's the best that the students could do. Each student put in their own best work."
She said she wanted the students to see that maybe if they weren't good at drawing, they could be good at ceramics. Once they learn what they can excel at, when they enter high school, she said they can focus more on their area of talent.
This is the first year for "An Evening with the Arts," but Johnson said she hopes to make it an annual event.
Choral selections during the evening, directed by Beam, included "Down In Missouri," "That's What Music Can Do" and "Big City Swing" among others. Students Bryce Scott and Tom Daniels provided piano solos and Hanna Crane performed a tap dance.
The artwork displayed was created by students in art 1 & 2 trimester classes. Advanced art students are in the class year-round, and they led special demonstrations of various media and techniques.
Blankets and pillows created by family consumer science students, to be donated to the Beaman Home, were showcased. A demonstration of a computerized embroidery machine also was given.
Family and consumer science teacher Edith Rohrer said this was the first time she had students make quilts.
"It's an experiment, but I'm very happy. I told the kids it would be very hard to give them away, but they were fine with it." Rohrer said a spokesperson from the Beaman Home talked to the students and told them how happy the children at the Beaman Home would be to receive the gifts. "I hope the kids really caught that," she said.
Industrial technology classes featured dragster cars students assembled in class. With a bang, the cars raced down the track during the one-hour evening event.
Along with the industrial technology and family and consumer science students, Johnson said more than 300 art students displayed their art and there is more than 100 EMS students in the choir.
"It's interesting," said eighth-grader Christian Miles of the art evening. "It's fun."
"An Evening With The Arts" was funded by Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services and Parents as Partners grants. The program cover's design was by student Chelsea Domiano.
