Newfield middle, high schools to hold art show
This year, the Newfield Central School District will hold its annual middle school and high school Spring Art Show from May 17 to 20 to coincide with the budget vote for the district.
Newfield Central School District art teacher Megan Conner, who has been with the district for six years, described the importance of art for students as well as the significance behind the show’s timing.
“Arts in the Newfield Central School District are studio based and are designed to emphasize the creative process and artistic production in both 2D and 3D art forms,” she said. “Students learn about the elements of art and the principles of design, why they exist and how to apply them to individual projects. Visual literacy, idea development, problem solving, good craftsmanship … and time management are strongly emphasized. Art shows held on budget vote days are a helpful reminder of the importance of the arts in the education system.”
Conner added that many schools reroute funding from arts programs to core subjects like math and English classes. In some schools, this practice results in portions of arts programs being completely cut because of the perceived need to save money and use it to raise test scores.
A small preview of the show will take place in the budget voting area of the elementary school. A dozen pieces of work will be displayed there, with the rest being displayed in the high school lobby.
“This year, we will have a silent art auction,” Conner said. “It will be starting on May 17th at 8 a.m. and end on the 20th at 3 p.m.”
Conner said that the link to the silent auction will be posted on the Newfield Art Department site at sites.google.com/newfieldschools.org/newfield-art-department/home after going live Tuesday morning.
Art being offered in the silent auction will include pottery, paintings, printmaking designs, jewelry, drawings, 3D creations, dioramas, mosaics and mixed media. The auction will have a spreadsheet showing current bids and their amounts for individuals wishing to monitor and bid on art throughout the duration of the auction.
“Last year, we had the event at the Newfield Library,” Conner said. “We could not have a show in 2020 due to it being the first year of COVID and the restrictions that were imposed. We were fortunate that, in 2021, the library allowed us to have it there. The library director, Sue Chaffee, has been very helpful and supportive.”
Conner added that Chaffee and library staff have let the school district hold a whole host of events in the library, including workshops for the Empty Bowls project happening this summer.
“Their support has been very important in representing the arts in the community, and we are grateful for that,” she said.
The school district’s art department will also be offering a preview of the bowls that have been made by students for the Empty Bowls project. This year’s Empty Bowls project will be an ice cream social, held June 22 at Newfield’s Mill Park. A minimum donation of $12 is suggested for the selected handmade bowl and ice cream sundaes that can be made from a collection of ice creams and toppings generously donated by local businesses throughout the region.
Proceeds raised from the event will go to the Newfield Kitchen Cupboard to assist in continuing to provide food to community members in need.
“The seventh-grade class will be making the last round of bowls soon,” Conner said. “Families like to come and try to find the bowl their child made. That is a fun draw of the event.”
On the last day of the event, the elementary students will be invited to a collaborative display of what the middle school and high school students are doing in the arts. The event is open to students only and will offer the elementary students a chance to see what opportunities in the arts are available to them in the future.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for students that are not athletic or interested in sports to see and preview what options are available in the future to express themselves and explore their interests,” Conner said. “It’s a collaborative effort that presents music, performing arts, visual arts and mixed media.”
Inquiries about the art show can be sent to Conner at mconner@newfieldschools.org.
Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.
In brief:
Oceans of Possibilities
The library invites the entire community to Oceans of Possibilities this summer, a free, eight-week program that includes fun activities and prizes for all ages. Each week, there is something for everyone, including family storytime, adventure club, movie and game nights, book clubs, discussion groups, take-home kits and more.
Special events include Theatre Night, presented by Walking on Water Productions, Stories from the People of the Longhouse by Turtle Clan member Perry Ground, Save the Ocean by Tanglewood Nature Center and a visit from the Bubbleman. Information on the Oceans of Possibilities can be found on the library website at tinyurl.com/yc6e992a.
