Pulaski showcasing brilliant works in art show

Art is all the rage in the Pulaski School District in March.

The Pulaski School District is taking part in this year’s National Youth Art Month. The school district has artwork made by students of all grade levels on display at the district office, 143 W. Green Bay St. throughout the month of March.

“We have K-12 up through the building here,” said Pulaski Community Middle School art teacher Sarah Hoffman. “We basically chose about 20 pieces from every school — some two-dimensional, some three-dimensional — all of the kids are honored with certificates.”

The art show is running in conjunction with youth art month, which takes place in March. The art will be on display every school day during the month from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

One third-grade student discussed the process of creating her art and how it feels to have it displayed for the community.

“I made a vintage travel print,” said McKenzie Sage. “I don’t even remember how long it took, but we did step by step in class, creating islands to mountains, then trees and planes.”

Sage said that she loves knowing that people throughout the community are coming in and looking at both her and her classmates’ art.

“It is a really good feeling,” said Sage. “This is my favorite class in school, so I like to see people looking at my work.”

Fifth-grader Jillian Fisher shared similar emotions when discussing her experience with art in school.

“It takes a lot of effort,” said Fisher, when she was discussing her perspective drawing of the Polar Express. “You have to work hard and really get into the drawing.”

While some artists know exactly what they want to create when they plan their art, Fisher takes a different approach.

“Mostly, I do good drawings when I do not know what I am going to do at the end,” said Fisher. “When you are thinking about what you are going to do at the end, sometimes it doesn’t turn out good.”

Much like Sage, Fisher said that to see community members coming in and seeing her art is a good feeling. With this being her first time having art entered into a show, Fisher said that art may be something that she wants to pursue in the future.

“I feel like I want to live in somewhere like Florida and sell my art in the future,” said Fisher. “I definitely feel like I want to make a career out of art.”

Glenbrook Elementary School art teacher Beth Jaime said that this year’s art show is unique.

“Last year, we did not have an in-person show,” said Jaime. “Last year we did a virtual art show. The year prior, we had an art show, but it got shut down, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Jaime noted that this year’s art show is a little emotional for the art teachers in the district.

“This year is really special to us,” said Jaime. “It is special to us to have our student’s families be here in person.”

Hoffman said that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual art show has received a very warm reception.

“People love coming out here to see the art,” said Hoffman. “This is a great central location. School board members have the opportunity to come in and see the art, with their meeting room right down the hall.”

Similar to Sage and Fisher, art teachers in the district are happy to see that their students are getting recognized for the hard work that the students are putting in.

“I think that some of our students have never seen an art show before,” said Jaime. “This is a really great opportunity for them to feel like their artwork is in a real gallery.”

She added that students are also given the opportunity to make their way down to the district office to see what other students have completed.

“It is a neat experience, that maybe otherwise, they would not have,” said Jaime.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com