REGION 15 STAFF AND STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THE DISTRICT’S 20^TH ANNIVERSARY ART GALLERY

Art Show Scheduled for April 25 & 26, 2008

Members of the public are invited to explore the 20^th Annual Region 15 Art Gallery on Friday, April 25^th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 26^th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Pomperaug High School Gymnasium and the All Purpose Room.

Visitors are encouraged to come and experience thousands of works of art created by students in all grades.  Guests, who attend the show, will make their way through a student’s artistic progression from kindergarten to elementary, middle, high school and advanced placement art work. 

“The Region 15 Gallery provides a living example of the art curriculum at work, showing student progress in developing their artistic and creative skills,” explained Region 15’s Director of Fine Arts, Jane Sarjeant.  “Come and share the pride that our district and communities take in the aesthetic creations of our youth,” she said.

New this year will be an Alumni Art Show, scheduled to be held in the high school’s all-purpose room. Approximately 15-20 graduates of PHS have responded and will be sharing the space with the Advanced Placement art students.

“Having the alumni display their work shows that art continues to be a rich and meaningful part of their lives after Pomperaug High School,” said Mrs. Sarjeant. “We would like to strengthen our relationship with PHS alumni and this is a wonderful way to do so.”

Professional docent and former art teacher, Mrs. Ginny Fappiano trained students from grades five through eight as docents to provide guidance to Gallery visitors. These student volunteers will answer questions and provide information about the work created at their school in all grades.  They will also become familiar with the layout of the entire show to direct visitors to art from all schools.

“Docent training is vitally important,” Mrs. Fappiano told the four dozen students, “in order to become comfortable talking about art and talking about your classmates’ art.”

Visitors will be able to identify the young docents by their black t-shirts emblazoned with the Art Gallery logo, created by a Pomperaug Elementary School student.

Members of the fine arts department strive to show artwork from as many students as possible.  However, once art teachers and volunteers begin hanging the work, it is nearly impossible to ensure each child’s art is represented.  The digital art show, which was created in an effort to exhibit even more student artwork, will again be a prominent feature. 

 The Art Gallery is one of various venues where students’ art work is publicly shown.  Although a child might not have a piece in this year’s show, efforts are made throughout the year to include their work in other displays such as the Middlebury and Southbury public libraries, at Central Office and in businesses that participate in the Region’s Art Outreach Program. These additional venues are part of the Region’s efforts to bring student art into the community.

 “We are so pleased to have been able to share student artwork with the communities for the last twenty years!” said Mrs. Sarjeant. “I’m so proud of the teachers, staff, students, and countless volunteers who invest so much time and effort putting together this show.”