By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Manville High School Art students participated in the 6th annual Youth Art Month Celebration featured at the Manville Public Library during March.
The students in classes from Studio Art 1 to 3, Art Major, Computer Graphics, Advanced Computer Graphics and Commercial Design had their artwork on display. New this year was the 3D and 2D art, which they have been working on growing over the past few years.
Teachers Desiree Luszcz, Jennifer Kohl and Reed Peckis were all proud of their students.
Ms. Luszcz said the show had more than 70 pieces of student artwork.
”The students are absolutely terrific,” she said. “Every year I am just so thankful I get to work with kids who are so talented, so gifted and so eager to share their talents with the community.
”I am really thankful to Manville Public Library which hosts this event for us every year,” she said. “They lend us their space and put up with our creative whims. They are really fantastic. It has gotten bigger every year from a combined high school and ABIS show to the point that both schools are able to have their own Youth Art Month celebration.”
Student Edison Mendez in Studio Art 2 painted small pieces about 4 inches square in oil on canvas and acrylics on canvas. He said they were hard to do them so small by he got used to it after a while.
”It was really fun to do and the finished product is just so cute,” he said. “They were just random pieces that I decided to make and Ms. Luszcz really liked them.”
Edison said he enjoys art. “It is my favorite and I don’t know where I would be without it. It just takes the edge off of school so much.”
Students who participated in the show included Akilah Gaskin, Alyson Kreideweis, Amalia Morera, Amanda Scheuer, Anthony Hernandez, Aricelis Ahorrio ,Ashley Michalski ,Ashley Torres, Avery Wilson, Breanna Lopez, Brett Defazio, Brianna Berrocal, Chelsea Phuangthong, Cheyanne Bylina, Connor Faleski, Cynthia Marshalek, Edison Mendez, Emeli Bolanos, Emily Bennett, Emily Milich, Frances Barrantes, Haylee Furka, Ilene Gonzalez, Jack Kuhlman, Jamier Bailey, Janeen Edwards, Jason Nitti, Jenna Molesko, Joey Mascola, Jonathan Tran, Julie Pankowski, Katlyn Faulkner, Keyri Rojas, Klaudia Bunkowski, Laura Parra, Mari Kruashvili, M. Fernanda Baltodano, Maria Vega, Mariusz Matysek, Marquell Jackson Clark, Michaela Hvizdak, Natalia Bak, Nataly Brito, Ondra Mayfield, Paul Cabrera, Phoenix Pietrangelo, Rhiannon Wille, Ryan Czarrunchick and Siobhan Flynn. “In addition to showing our artwork and presenting our student with certificates, we are having a fundraiser to benefit St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center,” Ms. Luszcz said. “The children have worked for about a month creating Houses of Hope for Homeless Animals magnets that are all hand crafted. A $3 donation gives all profits to St. Hubert’s. They are working on using their talents to help others who are less fortunate. We feel that giving back is an important thing, and a lot of the students, as well as myself, have a real soft spot in their heart for animals.”
All of the “Houses of Hope for Homeless Animals” magnets were sold at the event raising more than $150 for St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center.
According to Ms. Luszcz, some of the student artwork will move onto the Teen Arts Festival, which takes place the county level in May.

