Middle School Student Participates In Rooster Fundraiser

By Susan Coney

Seventh grader Sara Hill is the only student participating as an artist in an area rooster-painting  fundraiser to benefit Parent Connection. Parent Connection is a grassroots organization of concerned parents and citizens dedicated to addressing local substance abuse issues.

In the fundraising effort members of Parent Connection sold several plain, unadorned rooster figurines to area businesses. Local artists are painting the roosters either in a traditional or abstract fashion, and the completed works will be displayed at those businesses until the pieces are auctioned off at a fundraiser in April, stated Dorrie Carolan, co-founder of Parent Connection.

Ms Carolan went on to say that the group is very appreciative to the local artists for giving their time and talents to help Parent Connection with one of it’s major fundraisers of the year.

Newtown Middle School student Sara Hill first got the idea to be part of the fundraising event when her mother’s employer purchased a rooster for display. Jennifer Hill works at Bagel Delight and her employer Eunice Laverty was delighted when Sara expressed an interest in decorating the rooster.

Sara’s art teacher, Arlene Spoonfeather, contacted The Bee when she saw the finished product. “She did a beautiful job painting the rooster. It looks so real. Sara is very talented,” Ms Spoonfeather said.

At 12 years old, Sara is an accomplished artist well beyond her years. She has already sold her first pen and ink drawing, a rendering of a home on Main Street that had recently been on display at the Booth Library.

When Sara was asked how she preplanned the painting of the rooster she explained that she really likes to do authentic, realistic artwork. “At first I thought I might do an abstract look but I reconsidered because I thought it might not auction off well and it is for a fundraiser. I love to do realistic work so I looked online and also at pictures my art teacher brought in of her pet roosters and took the color and detail ideas from that,” Sara revealed.

When asked what the favorite part of participating in the fundraiser was she did not hesitate; the opportunity to stay after school and work with her art teacher was the best part. “We don’t get a lot of art time at school. Only once a week. Other subjects we have to go to several times a week. We really don’t get enough art, especially for the art students who really want it. I really liked staying after school with Ms Spoonfeather,” Sara explained.

Art is a major focus in Sara’s life. Already she has a thoroughly planned path for herself, which includes studying and obtaining a college level degree from an art school and moving on to study and work in the art field in London. “I love London! There are lots of opportunities to study and view great works of art there. I am also a huge tea lover so I would like it there,” she said.

In addition to the rooster Sara painted, which is currently on display at Bagel Delight, numerous other roosters painted by several local artists such as David Merrill, Liz Parsons, Marilyn Doyle, and Donna Ball will be placed on display as they are completed at the following locations: Flagpole Realty, The Inn At Newtown, Gallery Van O’s, Church Hill Therapy, and Newtown Savings Bank.

More details regarding the April auction of the roosters will be forthcoming in the near future.