story and photos by kathryn schiliro

Primary school students' artworks showcased at annual show

The inspirations?
Autumn leaves, van Gogh... and Pete the Cat.
Morgan County Primary School students – 717 of them – debuted their own personal artworks early in November, in a weeknight show at the school's gymnasium.
The show, held Thursday, Nov. 10, allowed parents and students to come view the work and even buy it, framed and ready to mount, for a mere $25 per work.
This show of students' artwork has become an annual tradition for art teacher Leslie Ryals. Not only does it allow the students to show off what they're doing in the classroom, it also acts as a fund-raiser for the art program at the school, supplementing funding for art supplies.
Ryals says that her art lessons are "open, but guided."
Kindergarten students' work was inspired by a reading of "Pete the Cat: Rocking in my School Shoes." For first graders, it was a study Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" that prompted their work in mixed media. Second grade students' study in printmaking utilized the leaf-y textures found on the ground outside.
"It was really a big deal for them to pull off," Ryals said of the second graders' work.
Twins Alex and Gracie Reed, both 5, are in Kindergarten and spoke about their takes on Pete the Cat. Gracie explained that her cat was blue, and Alex commented on his purple background.
"I put some details," Alex said. "I had to trace things, so it's details."
Alpharetta-based Artome – which specializes in youth art shows – did most of the work for the event: providing the paper, framing the work, setting up the show. PTO volunteers took parents' money.
Most of the $25 per work goes back to Artome, but a portion of that total goes to support the MCPS art program, to buy supplies for the classroom, Ryals said.

Printed in the December 1, 2011 edition