Student creativity of all kinds will be showcased for the public at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library April 28-May 7, when Chippewa Valley Schools brings its Festival of the Arts to the Main Library location.
The school district will bring both student art and musical performances to the library, located at 40900 Romeo Plank in Clinton Township. Art display hours will match the library’s hours of Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 6 p.m. Art for the over 18 schools in the district, K-12, will be displayed. Elementary and high school level two-dimensional art will be located on the library’s first floor. Three-dimensional art from any grade level will be shown in first floor display cases. Middle school level two-dimensional art will be shown on the library’s second floor.
Amelia Vecchio, a teacher at Huron Elementary School in Clinton Township, is an organizer of the festival. She said the library and the school district have traditionally partnered to hold the show since about 2011, offering the opportunity to expand the audience for student art beyond district parents and staff.
“Back in like 2011, when we put this together, we originally had tossed out a bunch of different ideas. And we landed on the library because of spacing issues. It does take up a lot of space,” Vecchio said. “And if it was at one of our high schools or at an auditorium of one of our schools, it would not be able to stay up as long as it does. The spaces are used by students and whatnot. So we reached out to the library and they were more than excited to partner up.”
Vecchio estimated that this year’s art display will feature about 600 elementary school level pieces, about 200 high school level pieces and approximately 400 middle school level pieces.
“As far as how works are chosen, it is just teacher discretion,” Vecchio said. “I know I just look for pieces that are exemplary, or if a student is passionate about art, I reach out and say, ‘Hey, do you want to make something for the show? I can make space for it.’ Middle and high schools may utilize art club submissions, they all choose in their own way as far as I know.”
The show is meant to serve as a way to bring community recognition to student work, rather than be a competition, according to Vecchio.
“Even when we are setting up the show, community members at the library comment on how lovely it is to see the artwork. We just enjoy watching people stand back and walk around and check it out. It is more like an appreciation experience rather than like a competition,” Vecchio said.
Musical performances by Chippewa Valley Schools students will be held May 2 at 6:30 p.m. and May 4 at 6:30 p.m. Algonquin Middle School, a school in Clinton Township, will have its jazz band perform May 2. Vecchio said that Dakota High School, a school in Macomb Township, will provide three different bands for the May 4 concert: A jazz band, a saxophone ensemble and a brass ensemble.
Source: News