An exhibit to remember

Buzz in the Halls

By: Pam Koharchik
   The Spring Arts Festival at Allentown High School was held May 19 and, as I have often noted what was going on with the choir or with the literary magazine in this column, this time I wanted to focus on the artwork at the festival by sharing some photographs from the gallery.
   The Library Gallery was set up to display the students’ works in different stations. Upon entering the library, the fall mural by the Art I students greeted visitors. Titled "The Land of Enchantment," each student was responsible for a square which, when joined with everyone else’s squares, produced a seamless picture. The mural is permanently installed in the library due to its theme — the imagination stirred by reading. The spring class created two murals that were hung in the auditorium during the concert portion of the show.
   Art III projects included surrealist pencil drawings placed behind colorful Art II portraits, each done in one primary color scheme that produced a spectrum of colors when juxtaposed next to each other. A table in front of these displayed examples of Art I orbs, all individualized, that will adorn a "poodle tree" in the sculpture garden started last year by then-student Christopher Matrone. These orbs, made of ceramic clay, will provide a colorful addition to the outside space. A nearby table included ceramic vases and sculptures by the Art II class.
   In various places in the library, scratch board portraits of pets were hung. The medium is a wax-like flat, black substance that, when scratched, allows a line of white to show through along with other graphite drawings. In the aisles of the library, completer pictures were displayed on the racks. Students took half of a face in a magazine ad and finished it with a pencil drawing to create symmetry. Colorful paintings were also hung throughout the media center.
   Art IV students contributed sculptures in Winterstone, a substance that allows the artist to glaze or paint his creation with excellent results. The "little people" are a recent addition to the Art IV curriculum.
   Senior Zach Strobino enjoyed a wonderful display that showed off his Romanesque bust, rumored to be Bradley Nicklas, one of the art teachers (along with Paulette Hill). When asked to comment, Mr. Nicklas reluctantly confirmed his modeling assignment, adding that since "Brad Pitt wasn’t available," he was happy to fill in. The piece was flanked by the accolades Zach received at the Clay Studio and Northern Burlington County Regional High School juried craft show. One award was for "Clay in Mind 2006 Winner’s Exhibit" and the other was a workshop scholarship.
   In the back of the library, seniors set up displays showcasing their hard work. These showcases demonstrated their artists’ creativity in many forms and media, including sculpture, paint and graphite.
   Much of the students’ artwork is featured in the literary magazine "Impressions," available that night at the concert for a $2 donation to the Frank Marino Scholarship Fund.
   Buzzing in the halls this week… Prom, prom, prom — that’s all you hear about! It will be held this year Saturday, June 3 at the New Brunswick Hyatt… Mid-marks were turned in to the guidance office Monday, so if they haven’t made it home yet, be on the lookout for them…
   Pam Koharchik is a teacher at Allentown High School.