Annual Student Showcase celebrates student artists in Danville/Boyle County

By KATE SNYDER
Community Arts Center 
Peyton Pendleton is a senior at Danville High School. She creates vibrant comic art, bringing her characters to life by hand-coloring her designs. Her characters are amazingly realistic, the result of intense work on sketching figures in a variety of poses. Peyton is one of over 300 students from twelve schools whose work will be featured in the 2017 Student Showcase, on exhibit at the Community Arts Center through May 25th.

The 2017 Student Showcase is presented by PNC Bank. “The Student Showcase is a wonderful celebration of young people in our community,” says Yajaira Aich West, PNC Vice President, Client and Community Relations Director. “At PNC Bank, we believe that investing in our students from the community is the best way to invest in the future of Danville. We are proud to support these aspiring artists.”

The first floor Grand Hall gallery will display artwork by selected Boyle County and Danville High School seniors – including artists Alexis Branscum and Pendleton – whose work was selected by their teachers as demonstrating exemplary creative excellence. In addition to these spotlight pieces, the Student Showcase will feature several pieces of collaborative student artwork. Under the direction of teacher Darell Rickmers, a group of students from Bate Middle School created a puzzle as part of the Kentucky Center for the Arts, Arts Literacy Project: Bearing Witness Holocaust Study. The students read through the script, “Number the Stars”, by Lois Lowry, adapted by Beth Bugner and Donna Wojcik and created the artwork in response. Other collaborative pieces include a mixed media installation by Woodlawn Elementary School students and a quilt by Bate Middle School students.

The Lockhart Gallery on the 2nd floor of the Arts Center will house “Identity,” an art exhibit presented by students from Hogsett, Jennie Rogers and Toliver elementary schools who participated in the Side-By-Side program this spring. Selected students were invited to weekly sessions during which they explored artistic skills and processes through the themes of cultural, community and self-identity. Led by DISD visual art teacher Chassity Brady and elementary teacher Mary Neal, the students worked with mask-making techniques, painting, armature, and clay. The program culminated with a mentoring session that partnered the student artists with professional artists from the Danville community.

The Identity exhibit includes student artwork created during the sessions and both the student and mentor’s artwork from the culminating sessions. Students were recognized during a special reception at Hogsett Elementary School on April 24th and their artwork has been displayed at all three schools. The program was funded by VSA Kentucky, a non-profit organization that provides opportunities in the arts for children and adults with disabilities.

The second floor of the Arts Center will also feature the Youth Art Fair, organized by the Arts Commission of Danville/Boyle County in partnership with the Danville Independent School District, the Boyle County Schools, the Kentucky School for the Deaf, and Danville Christian Academy. Since 2002, the Arts Commission has been pleased to offer an opportunity for local students to exhibit their work to the community.  Originally held in Millennium Park, then in local school gyms or foyers, and now at the Community Arts Center, the Youth Art Fair continues to attract hundreds of school aged participants and even more spectators.  Mimi Becker, Executive Director of the Arts Commission, says “The Youth Art Fair is the perfect celebration of the wonderfully creative students and teachers we have in this community. It is a pleasure to see the variety of exciting work the students have produced.  The Arts Commission appreciates all those who have encouraged and mentored these kids who are so very proud of their accomplishments.” The Boyle County 4-H Council supports the Youth Art Fair by providing materials to students in both the Danville and Boyle County school districts.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, May 5th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm with refreshments provided by the Boyle County 4-H Council. The reception is free and open to the public.

On Exhibit
Student Showcase
May 3 to 25 | Monday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm

Coming Up

Beginner Waltz Lessons
Thursdays at 6pm, May 4, 11, 18, 25
No preregistration required – $10 at the door

Munchkin & Me Preschool Art Class
Mondays at 10am
A FREE visual arts class for children ages 18 month – 4 years, with an adult caregiver. Experiment with new techniques and new mediums each week! No preregistration required.

Starry Night Studio: NYC Skyline
Tuesday, May 9 | 7pm to 9pm | $28
Spend a relaxing evening painting the iconic New York City skyline. Never painted before? No problem!  A professional artist will guide you, step by step, from blank canvas to finished masterpiece. Register online at www.communityartscenter.net

Starry Night Studio: Tree Hugger
Tuesday, May 23 | 7pm to 9pm | $28
Capture a favorite childhood memory with this lovely painting of a tree with tire swing. Register online at www.communityartscenter.net

Lunch with the Arts: Featuring Heather Henson and Liz Orndorff
Wednesday, May 17 | 12pm | $7 at the door
First came the play, then the children’s book!  Join playwright Liz Orndorff and children’s author Heather Henson for a discussion of the story that inspired both an award-winning play and a children’s book. More information online at www.communityartscenter.net.

Summer Art Camps Now Enrolling

Bookworms Art Camp – June 5 to 9
Rainforest Adventure Camp – June 12 to 16
Fabulous Food Art – July 17 to 26
Take Flight – July 24 to 28
Camps for rising 2nd through 6th graders
9am to 12pm OR 1pm to 4pm
$100 per camper ($125 after May 14)
Register online at www.communityartscenter.net

Mini Camp – July 28 to August 4
Rising kindergarten and 1st graders
9am to 12pm
$100 per camper ($125 after May 14)
Register online at www.communityartscenter.net

Middle School Nerd Camp – July 28 to August 4
Rising 7th through 9th graders
1pm to 4pm
$125 per camper ($150 after May 14)
Register online at www.communityartscenter.net