By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
Many residents probably have seen the work of Manville High School Art Society students without even knowing it the society’s members often create decorations for school concerts and school events.
But this year’s Youth Art Show at Manville Public Library is the first the society has presented there.
”I’m very excited for it because we don’t usually have stuff like this,” Eddie Yakobchuk, a junior, said. “People in our town can see what our high school and Art Society are doing.”
The 40-piece show, which runs through March 27, features works by Manville High School and Alexander Batcho Intermediate School students. The group was able to organize and host the show outside schools, thanks to a growing number of students participating in the society, Desiree Lusczc, an art teacher at both schools, said.
March 19, the society will honor students with artwork in the show during a 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. reception at the library.
”We tried to select works that would show a range and variety of the types of assignments that students participate in across the visual arts curriculum.” Ms. Lusczc said. “We also wanted to highlight and celebrate the talent and achievement of our students. A few students brought in artworks that they created outside of school, and we decided to exhibit them because they showed the true spirit of Youth Art Month: the celebration of creativity in our young people.”
Ms. Lusczc selected the Alexander Batcho Intermediate School students’ work from works the school’s sixth- through eighth-graders created during the school’s second marking period. The Manville High School visual arts department Michael McAlick, Reed Peckis and Ms. Lusczc selected the high school students’ art to feature in the show.
”I think people will have a better opinion and see that we’re interested in other stuff,” Natalie Lewicki, a freshman, said.
The works are displayed throughout the library, including the bulletin boards near the reception desk, inside three display cases and in the library’s community room. Though creating a show may seem simple, it’s more work than many realize, the students and Ms. Lusczc said.
In addition to compiling pieces, students cut the mat boards on which they mounted the pieces, created a show program and helped hang the show. Simply hanging the pieces at the library was more work than people may realize, several Art Society members said. In addition to simply hanging the pieces and ensuring the works were straight, the students had to decide which pieces should be hung together.
”If we pursue art as a career, we’ll be putting on our own art shows,” Clara Hung, a junior, said. “We learned how much hard work we’ll have to put in.”

