RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL ART SHOW

Two award-winning video productions will be among the more than two hundred student art works to be exhibited at the annual River Valley High School Art Show on Sunday, May 2nd, from 3:00 to 5:30 pm in the high school Commons Area. The exhibit includes works in pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, tempera, acrylic, mixed media, video, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, bookbinding, and projects from design, representing nearly every one of the 198 students enrolled in high school art classes during the 2003-04 school year. Many of the student artists will be on hand at the reception to meet with the public and to talk about their work. Some elementary and middle school art work will also be displayed.

For the first time ever, the High School Art Show is being sponsored by a community organization. The Spring Green Area Arts Coalition (SGAAC), established last September, will join with the art departments of the River Valley School District to present these student works. From its inception the Arts Coalition has actively sought to increase public awareness and recognition of both the artistic achievements of area youth and the strength of the art and music education programs in our local public and parochial schools. The Art Show will officially “open” at 3:00 pm with a public reception hosted by the Arts Coalition. Refreshments will be provided. There is no charge and everyone is welcome.

On display will be RV senior Jacob Leeck’s video, “Out of Control”, which won 1st place in the Wisconsin Educational Media Association Media Fair, as well as the 3rd place winner, “Homecoming 2003”, by seniors Eric Anderson and Kale Bodendein. A video about River Valley High School, by senior Matt Honer, will also be available for viewing.

Also on display will be pieces by several other RVHS students who have received outside recognition for their work. Siri Bell, junior, and Quentin Gradel, senior, participated in the Southwest Wisconsin Area High School Art Exhibit last January at the Nohr Gallery at UW-Platteville. Spencer Creasey, senior, and Jessica Olson, sophomore, had work juried into the UW-Oshkosh High School exhibit, which included 160 works of art selected from 620 entries from 58 different state high schools.

The afternoon’s events will include a “clay throwing” demonstration on the potter’s wheel by advanced students of ceramics.

Those who cannot make the afternoon reception and exhibit will have a few more chances to view at least some of the student artwork. The entire show will remain up for the RV High School Band Concert that same evening, May 2nd, at 7:00 pm. A selection of the student art works will be exhibited on Tuesday night, May 4th, when the SGAAC holds a “Meet the Arts Coalition Social Event” in the high school’s Little Theater, beginning at 7:00 p.m. And the Spring Green Community Library will be featuring high school student art throughout the month of May.

For more information about the May 2nd student art show and reception, please contact SGAAC board member Kay Lynn Taylor at 608-583-4041.