Dan's Papers - February 22, 2008 - Art Commentary with Marion Wolberg Weiss

Celebrating student art in our public and private schools continues with a display at Southampton's Parrish Art Museum. Combined with the exhibit at Guild Hall (featured in last week's Art Commentary), we get a bird's eye view of the artistic potential often neglected in other parts of the country.

Gone are the days when creativity meant gluing macaroni onto a piece of paper. Or making a vase from playdough. Now in elementary schools, students learn to replicate the formal qualities of famous artists, this year, it seems, more than previous ones. Thus, we have Van Gogh's "Starry Night" by Southold Elementary School (made with straws and crepe paper), Klimt's "Tree of Life" by Roanoke Avenue School's first grade, and examples of Picasso's sculpture by Cutchogue Elementary School's third grade.

Such projects are all outstanding examples of technique and style. We can only assume that the students will not get into the "habit" of copying another artist's work as a substitute for their own imagination.

Another common project is puppet-making, a highly inventive and uplifting exercise. It's one that younger students, particularly, find enjoyable and instructive. The importance of puppets throughout history is also important, and hopefully the youngsters are taught to appreciate such a tradition.

Puppets at this year's show include a charming focus on story from Raynor Country Day School's fourth grade as well as an emphsis on character from Hayground's production of Anthony and Cleopatra. While the Hayground School is known for its puppet-making, it's still a surprise to see the high level of craftsmanship and insight into the characters' personalities shown by the students. Another joyful puppet display is a fantasy-inspired collection of figures mounted on a pole by Sag Harbor Elementary School.

Other projects are sociological in nature, incorporating figures and images to tell a story - Sag Harbor's Elementary School is one such example, celebrating the Village's 300-year history with diverse media and time periods.

From an aesthetic perspective, we must give credence to a project from the seventh grade at Cutchogue Elementary School. In particular, the color tonalities are mature, as are the subtle qualities of the color. These are some formal aspects we like to see, especially. It means students and teachers alike are taking art seriously.

The Elementary School show will be on view at the Parrish Art Museum until March 9. The Annual High School Exhibition will be on view March 15-30.