by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
While exploring last month’s Art Walk I came across some amazing pieces by talented local artists, many of whom have been honing their craft for years. Seeing an artist’s work after decades of perfecting brush strokes and composition is always nice, but seeing one just beginning their artistic journey is thrilling. I had the pleasure and privilege of checking out the work of the Visual Arts students at LaVilla School of the Arts. These promising preteens and teens are the artists of tomorrow and getting a glimpse of the future is as easy as making a trek Downtown.
LaVilla is a Visual and Performing Arts magnet school designed for both beginning and advanced middle school students ready to take their craft to the next level. In addition to their chosen area of art instruction, the kids must also be serious about academics, maintaining a 3.0 at all times to be eligible for the program.
Connie Rink, LaVilla’s Activities Director, took time out of her busy schedule to show me around the school and let me take a peek at some of the art classes in action. One thing that became apparent right away is that student art is not confined to the gallery on campus. Murals on the walls of the hallways were all done by students over a three year period and continue to be a work in progress. Young artists created portraits of major literary figures and famous painters, which lined one hall. Everywhere you turn, there’s another extraordinary work of art, all done by a talented young artist.
“They’re so guileless at this age and so energetic,” Rink commented as we passed by yet another series of remarkable paintings. “I’m told it’s a much better product in middle school than it is in college because by college they so want it to be just right that they can’t let go… These little 7th and 8th graders just fly into it.”
A tour of the gallery proves this. Currently on display are the some pieces from last year’s 8th grade class. Many paintings have the theme “Self Expressions,” and tell something about the student’s lives. While not perfect, for a group of kids not old enough to drive yet, these pieces are very good, showing an understanding of color, shading and composition that some local artists twice their age have failed to grasp.
“By the time they get to Douglas Anderson, they are mega-talented,” Rink remarked, and she’s right. Looking at the paintings in the gallery, it’s hard to imagine how far these kids will come with four more years of artistic instruction. At the rate they’re going, the sky is the limit.
We then popped over to Cheryl Lunger’s classroom, where she teaches 2-D Art. On this particular day a group of 8th graders were learning about foreshortening and contouring. Lunger spoke highly of her newest crop of students.
“This year I would say I probably have a pretty large group of really talented kids that are just naturally talented,” she said.
LaVilla typically has four to five gallery openings each school year, usually coordinated with other events, such as dance recitals or plays. The first gallery opening for the 2007-2008 school year is tentatively scheduled for November 15th. At that show, you can expect work from 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. If you simply can’t wait that long to see what these kids can do, the school’s gallery and halls are available to anyone who wants to check them out.
“The gallery is pretty much always open to people if they want to come look at it,” she said. “They just have to come to the front office and somebody will call me and I’ll show them around… Anytime they’re interested in the art we’re happy to show them around.”
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EU Critic’s Choice Awards
