Work By Five NHS Artists Chosen For National Exhibition

By Eliza Hallabeck

Works created in school by five Newtown High School artists have been selected by the National K-12 Exhibition Foundation to be a part of this year’s show, and The students work is five out of  211 pieces selected nationally.

“This is the first year we have done this,” said NHS teacher Carol Pelligra.

Junior Chelsea Sabia, sophomores Alexandra Avila and Kristen Budd, and seniors Bridget Naphen and Ashley Mancini submitted their work and will soon be packing their sculptures to be sent to Arizona for the display.

The art will be exhibited April 8-11 in Phoenix, Ariz., at the 2009 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Conference. The National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition is a juried ceramic competition for kindergarten through grade 12 students in the United states, and it is designed to showcase the best ceramic pieces in the country.

“We’re always looking for competitions and shows for the students,” Ms Pelligra said.

A total of 1,041 entries were submitted this year. From grades nine through ten there were 144, and from grades 11 through 12 there were 638 total entries.

Ms Pelligra said people involved with the foundation were amazed that so many students were chosen from NHS to be a part of the exhibition.

“You can be very proud of having attained this level of achievement The work at all levels submitted is outstanding and it is clear that each teacher and student must be commended for the wonderful work being done by our students and their inspiring teachers,” reads the notice of selection that was sent to Ms Pelligra.

Displaying student artwork at events like the 2009 National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Conference gives the public a chance to see what students are accomplishing in school, Ms Pelligra said. It also helps the students build a portfolio to add to their college resume, and having their work on display helps to give the students a sense of pride.

“These are the future artisans,” Ms Pelligra said of her students.

Chelsea said her plate, which she designed in school, was henna inspired, and she took different patterns to create the design.

“I kind of just experimented with different textures and designs,” said Kristen about the platter she designed for a class project.

Ashley said she played around with different designs on a paper before deciding which one she liked best for the plate, bowl and cup she created.

Alexandra said she created her vase in class when the project assignment challenged the students to create whatever they wanted.

Ms Pelligra said the school was “flabbergasted that we got five in. We were very pleased and the students are proud.”