Memorial Middle School Students Display Art Work in Gallery Show at Carole Peck’s Good News Café in Woodbury

   Memorial Middle School (MMS) students will have art work on display in a gallery show entitled “Expressions” at Carole Peck’s Good News Café, 694 Main Street South in Woodbury.

   From March 22nd through April 25th, MMS 7^th and 8^th grade students, selected by art teachers Elaine Kyle and David Santa Maria, will have their paintings and sculptures on view to restaurant patrons. 

  According to Ms. Kyle, some of the works created by students are visual interpretations of literature while other pieces were influenced by still life and the study of Georgia O’Keeffe.        

   “The nest sculptures are an outcome of a lesson driven by the Region 15 curriculum that is designed to develop self expression through visual arts,” explained Ms. Kyle.  “Students were asked to design a bird’s nest that represented a part of themselves.”

   “I made a lighthouse for this project which represents me in many ways,” said eighth grader, Christina R.  “I used the colors red, orange, and yellow because I am a very bright and happy person.” 

   According to Christina, her nest, which is made from objects that may be found around a lighthouse or near the beach, represents her love of Cape Cod and travel. 

   The Good News Café has been featuring the work of Region 15 students for the past few years.  According to Good News Café employee, Jeanne Johnson, Carole Peck and her husband, Bernard Jarrier, have run a gallery, featuring local and internationally known artists, at their restaurant ever since it opened. 

   “They have really made it a priority to bring art to the community through their restaurant”, said Ms. Johnson.  “Working with students in Region 15, has been a natural extension of their efforts.”

   “We are not a school system that is interested in producing refrigerator art or work that gets tucked away in a portfolio,” said Region 15, Director of Fine Arts, Jane Sarjeant. 

   “Higher order thinking skills that are developed through dialog about displayed student work and the work of other artists is invaluable,” she explains.  “The Good News Café has continually afforded us a glorious opportunity to showcase the work we are doing in Region 15 with our fine students.”

   The Good News Café is open Wednesday through Monday and closed on Tuesday.  Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with a café bar menu available from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. and dinner from 5:00 p.m. till closing.