Just in time for Youth Art Month, Mansfield City Schools students will be showcasing their art at various places around town.
Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center is hosting their annual arts festival, Artapalooza. The Ohio Regional High School Exhibition is being showcased at Mansfield Art Center. Both exhibitions feature Mansfield City School students in various grades.
Molly Reecer, art teacher at both Prospect and Woodland Elementaries, worked with her students to help make their creations come alive. For Artapalooza, she chose the theme “winter,” where students used mediums like oil pastels, tissue paper and markers to create snow, snowflakes and polar bears. She also introduced older students to Tim Burton and taught them the technique of shading and blending with pencil tools.
The month of March is recognized as Youth Art Month by the National Education Association. It supports quality arts programs in schools and promotes art material safety.
“Art is important to keep creativity alive,” said Reecer. “Even if you are not great at art you still have to think outside of the box and that is something I have been trying to incorporate more into my teaching this year.”
Reecer adds that many students struggle with doing things the “right way” during art classes.
“My favorite thing about being an art teacher is being able to see my students create something they didn't think they could. Their face lights up when they finish.”
Artapalooza is open through Wednesday, March 24 at the Mid-Ohio Educational Services Center located at 890 W. Fourth Street from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Ohio Regional High School Exhibition will continue to show through April 18 located at 700 Marion Avenue from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, Tuesday through Sunday. Both locations will observe masks and social distancing.