Feed the animal games, farm texture prints (using cut
potatoes and tractor wheels), shade and texture your farm animal, and hay bale
snacks were just part of the fun at Family Art Night at Exeter-Milligan on
Tuesday, March 21.
The event is produced, directed and sponsored by the
art department with preparation starting in January. The department, under
the tutelage of art teacher Lisa Kanode, throws out ideas for the annual event
and then a theme is chosen by the high school art students vote.
Kanode introduced the event in 2015 and it has grown
in attendance each year since. Kanode explained, “Family art night is a
special event that many can benefit from. Starting with the volunteers
and helpers as they get an opportunity to teach and interact with kids.
Families benefit as they have the opportunity to spend quality time with their
kiddos in an unique way.”
The event not only introduces
different art mediums to the younger students, but it also gives the 6th
-12th graders enrolled in Kanode’s art classes the chance to
interact and teach. Since all of the family is encouraged to attend and
this gives the students running each booth the opportunity to interact with all
ages. The art students are vital in planning and designing each station for the
event.
Kanode has seen an direct
impact in the art department in the student body, “I definitely see a growing
interest in art, even in just helping out with family art night. This year the
sixth graders have really stepped up and embraced being a part of family art
night. They took on face painting which is one of the most difficult
stations to run.”
“It’s very student
driven. It benefits those who might want to go into education. The
students are sometimes nervous but I think they do fine. They get to pick what
station they are going to do and then figure out what they need for each
station. I give them some direction and let them run with it,” Kanode added.
Last year there were 8
stations and this year they bumped it up to 11 including a farm version of the
“plinko” game using a plastic egg to drop down to different prize buckets, a
make your own hobby horse head and then a chance to race against a friend and
their “horse” on a track. The students could decorate a pot and then
plant a seed in addition to using clay to make an animal picture.
Kanode has gotten some great
feedback from the event. According to her, “This year's most
popular stations seemed to be planting the seed, building a playdough farm, and
shading farm animals. Along with the egg drop and tractor pull
paintings! Oh and of course, they always love the book fair and face
painting.”
The art department had a
little help from ag teacher Miranda Hornung as the theme was ag related.
Props were brought in by Spanish teacher Lisa Ricenbaw and the prizes for the
egg drop plinko were donated by school counselor Denice Kovanda.
The shop department, assisted
by art students, built the plinko egg drop and the frame for the barn along
with the picket fence. All of the supplies for Family Art Night were rec
Inside and outside of the gym
was an art show of all of the students’ artwork. From kindergarten to
seniors the art was on display both inside the gym where farm animal sculptures
were placed near the barn backdrop and art was hung on the walls.
Kanode sends home an art
portfolio at the end of the school year with all of her students. She
encourages them to host a gallery showing at home with their parents and other
family members. The high school art students have already started working
on a theme for next year.