Head O’ Meadow Celebrates Works Of Art

By Larissa Lytwyn

Head O’ Meadow Elementary School recently held its annual student art exhibit, Gallery 2004, featuring student artwork from kindergarten to grade four.

Each grade, divided by classroom, did projects integrating both artistic technique and historical or cultural context. One fourth grade class, for example, made basket weavings inspired by their study of woodland Native Americans.

Kindergarteners were introduced to basic pattern formations using shapes including circles and stars.

First grade students had the opportunity to explore various art forms, from pottery to painting still life incarnations of fruit, inspired by legendary Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne.

They also worked in three-dimensional formats; one class made “Snow People,” crafted from multicolored construction paper and adornments like cotton balls and buttons.

Second graders took the lessons learned in first grade to the next level. One class painted floral watercolors influenced by classic artist Georgia O’ Keeffe. Other creations included leaf compositions, colonial tin punching, “fossilized” handprints, and Lakota Sioux charm bags.

“Each year I am amazed by [the students] capabilities,” noted art teacher Donna Perugini in the introduction to the Gallery 2004 program. “As I continue to teach art, I learn from my students each and every day.”

She called working with the students a privilege and said they were a pleasure to work with.

Alan Hankin, who attended the exhibit with his wife Michelle, said he had been excited to see his first grade son Baxter’s work.

“The quality of the work they do at these young ages is impressive,” he said.

“The pieces are a lot more involved and intricate then when I went to school at their age!” he added, laughing. “It’s great to see!”

Third grade students did watercolors, clay leaf sculptures, mountain and landscape portraits in pastels, and artistic interpretations of the solar system and the Fall of Icarus, inspired by legendary painter Henri Matisse.

Fourth graders did two-point perspective drawings, clay Mexican suns, the aforementioned birch baskets inspired by woodland Native American tribes and Japanese sumi-e paintings.

One class also did their initials in monochromatic colors.

Fourth grader Joanna Wollman’s class did the Japanese sumi-e paintings. “It was fun,” she said, “but a lot of work. I worked very hard on mine!”

The sumi-e technique introduced students to pen-and-ink drawing styles.

“I think it’s wonderful how we have this exhibit to enjoy every year,” said Donna Roberts, who attended with her sons, second grader Mitchell and kindergartner William.

“I think the fact that it’s going to be on display also gives them an incentive to do their very best,” she added.