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"Budding Picassos" On Display At Library
By Jo Ann La Russo
 | | --Photo By Jo Ann La Russo Standing alongside art teacher Julie Heise, 10-year-old Anna Wilson shows off some of her colorful creations at the headquarters of the Ocean County Library on Washington Street. Over 500-plus pieces of artwork from students throughout the Toms River Regional School District will be on display through March. For more photos from this event, visit our photo galleries at www.micromediapubs.com. |
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A dazzling array of artwork featuring brilliant colors and designs done by student artists of the Toms River Regional School District greets the eye upon entering the lobby of the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library in celebration of March as National 2008 Youth Art Month.
Sponsored by the Art Educations of New Jersey (AENJ), the exhibit debuted last week, featuring over 500 pieces designed to emphasize the value of art education for all children, and to encourage support for continuing quality school art programs.
The Destination Art-Youth Art 2008 display depicts the use of artistic imagination through the use of watercolor, charcoal and vibrant mediums displayed in the colorful maze of artwork that can be seen throughout the month.
Last week on opening day, the library's lobby was filled with proud parents and teachers. The children were chomping at the bit to look through the displays for their own work, while visitors were happily surprised by the variety of bright watercolors, soft pastels and stark charcoal renderings.
Viewing a novel paper maché bag of popcorn, a banana split, a hand painted African mask and a multitude of watercolors, visitor Eileen McNally, of Brick, marveled at the beauty of the children's artwork.
"It's amazing," McNally said as she walked through the maze of art work. "The students are very artistic. I can't get over their imagination."
Art teachers highlight student's ability to work with the different mediums and their artistic expression is evident in each piece of work, she added.
Madison Mclelland, 9, a fourth grade student at Washington Street Elementary, proudly displayed her pink and blue cardboard castle with glitter trim on each tower. Her best Julie Duriske, a fourth grader at Citta Elementary, pointed to her small wood cut garden on display.
"I made a garden because that's where I like to be," said Duriske. "It's a pretty place."
"Julie puts her effort into everything she does," said her father, Rich Duriske. "I take no credit for her talent."
Cameron and Cindy Mclelland said their daughter, Madison, "loves art."
"We're proud of her," they said, pointing to Madison's sparkly pink castle.
Cedar Grove Elementary School art teacher, Gina Bisogna, explained the importance of guiding children through artwork as 6-yearold, Ryan Cicardo, a kindergarten student, was just happy to show off his creative work of a construction paper cutout of an old fashioned, classic Mr. Potato Head.
"The project was fun," he said.
Second grader Emily Silvestro, 7, showed off her winter wonderland scene.
"I call it Winter's Window," she said as her dad, Gene Silvestro, stood nearby taking a bevy of photographs.
Anna Wilson, 10, stood proudly next to her bright orange pumpkin. Her parents, Bill and Paulyn, have always encouraged her creative side.
"Anna loves art and doing the project," said her mother. "She's very artistic at home."
Karen Seeland, an art teacher at North Dover Elementary, emphasized the importance of continuing and promoting art education in schools.
"They love art," she said. "I believe students should have fun with art."
"We need to keep art safe," said another teacher in reference to the April school budget election. "Art is the first thing to go."
Lisa DiCecelia, called her daughter, Anna, 7, a first grader at Citta Elementary "my budding Picasso," pointing to her crayon Rainbow sketch entitled "A Wish For Friendship."
"I love the students and what they put into their work," said Anna's art teacher, Cathy Burke.
The creativity of art is unleashed every day in art rooms where certified art educators share knowledge and experience and guide students as they generate personal visions of the beauty they see in the world.
The teachers agreed that creativity leads to higher levels of thinking, saying that even in today's business market, employers are always on the lookout for individuals who can think creatively and bring about the next trend.
The artwork at the library is on display until the end of March.
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