Sparta celebrates the art of youth

Sparta - All the colors in the rainbow will shine brightly in the halls of the Newton Gallery in the County Court House through April 6 as art created by Sussex county’s children adorns the walls in honor of the ninth annual Youth Art Month. Youth Art Month is a national celebration to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school programs. Sussex county’s art teachers were invited to submit artwork from their students representing their school. An artist’s reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, at the gallery, where each student will be presented with a certificate. The works have been on display since Feb. 27. “When I first found out I won, I was nervous,” said third grader, Veronica La Belle. “Then I became excited and it turned to a thrilling moment for me!” The artists chosen from Helen Morgan Elementary School are first grader, Therese Olshanski: second grader Michael Fricchione; third graders, Tyler Colon and Veronica La Belle; and fourth graders, Olivia Sasdi and Sascha Hernandez. Olivia Sasdi’s work was also selected to be displayed in the Art Educators of New Jersey’s 2006 Youth Art Month Exhibit held in the Trenton State House Annex Tunnel and Goldfinch Square from March 13 to March 17. The artists selected for the county exhibit from Alpine Elementary School are first grader, Abigail Finch; second grader, Harrison Lizarazo; third grader, Julia Silvestri; and fourth graders, Christina DeGasperis and Jack Frey. Mohawk Avenue School selected fifth grade artists, Ryan Bray, Sonia Geba, Kimberly Bollard and Timur Gomellya. “When I found out I was chosen, I was so happy because I want to be an artist when I grow up,” said Bollard. “Winning this award encourages me to keep at it, and I feel like I am getting closer to my goal.” In addition to this exhibit, a collection of student artwork from the schools will be on display in the children’s department of the Sparta Library during March and again in May. During March, Sparta students are being exposed to different artistic experiences and joining art competitions. The fourth graders at Alpine Elementary School, for example, ventured to the Montclair Museum to study Native American art and participate in a studio activity. Several students at Sparta High School took part in Teen Arts on Tuesday, March 14, at Sussex County Community College and others participated for the first time in the 2006 Chalk Walk in the Rockaway Mall on March 17. That was a competition among 16 students from different high schools in the area who worked for three hours to compose a drawing as big as four panels, each 4 x 9 feet, giving the final piece a total size of 9 x 16 feet. This year’s theme was ecology versus necessity. The completed murals were suspended from the second floor railings. For more information on the Chalk Walk, log on to geocities.com/mhchalkwalk.