February 19, 2018 at 4:48 p.m.
Student art on display at ArtStart
Student art on display at ArtStart
By Kayla Thomason-
District teachers approached ArtStart officials about displaying student art. The arts center happily approved and the teachers brought over 150 pieces to be exhibited.
The pieces will be on display until March 10.
"Each teacher determined which pieces from their classes that they wanted in here, and it's pretty well evenly distributed," said Ken Juon, president of ArtStart.
The student artwork is displayed throughout the gallery, mixing grades, ages and mediums in a way that showcases and draws attention to each piece.
"The reason why we did that, let's say you have all of the first graders together, and because they do tend to work on assignments, so you have six pumpkins and it's not as interesting (if all are together) and you don't get to see each work on its own merit, so we just decided to put them all around," Juon explained.
The artwork is framed, hung and displayed with great attention to placement.
"No matter whether it is a nationally-known artist or grade schoolchildren we like to put on a professional exhibition," Juon said. "So to be in a professional gallery, have their work taken seriously, have a lot of people coming to see it, is an important milestone in their schooling career."
Joshua Calhoun, Rhinelander High School and James Williams Middle School art teacher, was one of the teachers who initiated the exhibition.
When he interviewed for his teaching job three years ago, he was asked what he wanted to do that had not been done before in Rhinelander. His response was "I want to hang permanent art in the schools and I want to have an all-community K-12 art show - and those two things are happening," he said.
Calhoun said his students are downright giddy about having their pieces displayed before the community.
"The students I've talked to are very excited," he said, adding that he thinks the exhibit is a nice way for students to show off their creativity and talent.
"I think (the exhibit is) just an extra incentive to show off their great skills and it's a celebration to me of their skills and talents," he said.
Art, music, visual arts are good for children's brains, he added, noting that he feels art is just as important as sports.
"I really want to showcase those talents," he said. "Much like a sporting event, the art show can be a showcase of the great work that students do here in our school district because not every kid is an athlete, not every kid is a science wizard but they might excel at art or music and showcasing those things, I think, is just as important as a football game."
Mary Lukowski, proud grandmother to first grader Brayden Herrmann, was impressed by the students' work.
"I think it's great," she said. "I can't believe how some of these children can really paint like that. I'm proud of all the children that did all this. I think they did a good job."
Lukowski said she was glad ArtStart decided to feature the student art pieces.
"I think it's nice, I told them I think it's great they did something like that," Lukowski said. "The kids that have their pictures in here should be proud of them."
Juon is eager to welcome student artwork again next year.
"I encourage everyone to come see this work," he said. "It's really interesting. It's (the) Rhinelander student body at their best."
Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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