The Guilderland Central School District, in collaboration with the Guilderland Public Library, began its annual presentation of student’s artwork in the display cases and Helderberg Room of the library.
It’s an amazing display, an explosion of color and creativity, said Mark Curiale, public information officer for the library.
The display was set up by the teachers and students from the district’s five elementary schools on Wednesday, March 31. Library patrons can view the artwork in the display cases by the entrance to the library during the normal operating hours of the library. Artwork on display in the Helderberg Room of the library will be available for public viewing when there is not an event taking place inside the room.
According to Curiale, the elementary school artwork will be on display until Saturday April 20. A week later, on April 28, artwork from the students at Guilderland High School will go on display at the library, and remain there until May 19.
`It’s just a bit of joy,` said Curiale. `It’s uplifting to see that creativity.` Curiale said it’s a testament to the quality of the art teachers in the district when one sees the level of creativity that elementary school level students are able to exhibit.
Trisha Zigrosser, the art teacher in Altamont Elementary School said the artwork on display reflects what the art teachers taught the students throughout the course of the year. `We tried to pack in as much as we can. It’s floor to ceiling,` she said. `It’s really tough trying to choose what to put in, but there is not enough room [for everything]`
Rea Schauer, the art teacher at Lynwood Elementary School said `we try to give room for students to express their own opinions and thoughts.` She said the artwork reflects how the students see the world through their own unique visions.
While allowing students to express themselves, Schauer said that through collaboration with other disciplines, art also allows students to gain a better understand of history and other cultures.
Schauer said that one of the goals of the art program is also to teach students about the process of art, as opposed to just focusing on the end product. She said that students develop a sense of what goes into artwork, including research, planning, and editing.
According to Curiale, seeing the artwork first hand is the only way to fully appreciate it. `The pictures do it two dimensional justice, but you got to get in here and see it,` he said.
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