Barkalow Middle School art pupils (l-r) Melissa Rothman, Aisha Akhter, Anastasia Bischoff and Leo Copanski were among the Freehold Township students who had their work displayed at an exhibition in Trenton. FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Sixty-six students from the Barkalow and Eisenhower middle schools had their artwork on display in the state conference room at the New Jersey commissioner of education office over the past three months. Each year, student artwork is selected from schools throughout the state to be displayed in Trenton.
The Trenton exhibit is one part of the district’s middle school elective art program. According to Arlene Smelson, art teacher at Barkalow, the students have several opportunities throughout the year to display their work and enter competitions.
“These kids work so hard, even beyond class time, to complete their projects, and it is a great opportunity for them to get comments on their work from others outside the classroom,” Smelson said.
Students also provide their work for Monmouth County exhibits such as the Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury and the Monmouth Museum and the Teen Arts Festival, both at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft.
In addition to their work being on display in Trenton, Leo Copanski and Aisha Akhter, eighth-grade students at Barkalow, have been selected to take part in the Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival at Brookdale in March. Their work will be part of an exhibit and then critiqued by professional artists.
“It feels good to know that my work is good enough to be part of that,” Leo said.
Aisha was also happily surprised that her work was chosen.
“My work is among other artwork that is very good,” she said.
Smelson said her students are not only talented, but also think about how they can express themselves or make a statement through their work.
“Each year, students are selected to participate in state competitions and in many cases they have outdone high school students,” she said.
Those students who have their work chosen at the county exhibit will go on to participate in the State Teen Arts Festival in May.
Students from Barkalow and Eisenhower will attend the Monmouth County Teen Arts Festival. The festival provides teens in visual and performing arts with experience through critiques and workshops.