25th Annual District Art Show Another Success

Students throughout the district showed off their artistic talents during the 25^th Festival of the Arts.

The Festival of the Arts was held at Somers High School in the evening on May 2. Students from across the district contributed approximately 500 pieces of artwork created throughout the year. Seeing work from artists in every grade represents the creativity and growth displayed throughout their years of study in the arts at the Somers Central School District.

“I liked seeing the art that was used in the invitation, and seeing the girl who made it,” said fifth grader Melina Olivera. “It was fun to meet her.”

The artwork showcased explored a variety of different styles and techniques. From line art to life drawing, self-portraits to landscapes, and mixed media to videos, so many skills were displayed for family and friends to enjoy. With so much to see, it was hard to pick a favorite style, technique, or artist. Each section of the art show brought a new selection of artwork to study and appreciate.

“There was a section of skeleton animals. It was kind of creepy and kind of cool,” said fifth grader Scarlett Ritson. “They used line art with dots for shading and different textures.”

“For the planets, I made a dot with the Cray-Pas and then swirled my finger through it to make a circle like a planet,” said fifth grader Andrew Kaminski. “I brought my mom and dad. They liked my art and asked a lot of questions about how I did it.”

Hosting an event that includes the entire district helps to foster a greater sense of community, bridging the gaps between grades and building connections within and between the schools. Older students were reminded about where they started their journey, while younger students were inspired by the older students and looked forward to trying the new techniques and skills that would be learned in later grades.

“I liked seeing the older students’ artwork,” said fourth grader Lexi Quincoses. “I took pictures of it, and I will use it for inspiration.”

This year, Somers Education Foundation (SEF) provided a generous grant for the purchase of a new display system and panels, allowing more artwork to be shown. It also allowed for the artwork to be showcased for an entire week instead of one evening. Thank you to our artists, faculty, staff, SEF, and family visitors for making the Festival of the Arts a huge success again this year!