Celebration of Arts Ed. in Augusta
June 9, 2011A Grand Day!
Tuesday marked a wonderful day. For eight years the Department has had a student art display representing grades PK-12 from many Maine schools. The artwork has been enjoyed by Department staff and visitors.
During this time few students and families have actually seen the display. We know that exhibiting artwork is an important part of the art process and that our Maine Learning Results include Exhibition – Performance Indicator B4. For many months I have been thinking about ways to provide the opportunity for students and parents to actually see the display and how to create a celebration of arts education, not just visual arts. Yesterday the ideas all came together in one grand afternoon!
Mom and daughter view the art
Student artists and musicians from Wiscasset primary, middle and high schools were invited to the Blaine House to be recognized for their accomplishments. Over 100 people attended the reception in the beautiful gardens and watched and listened while 30 students received a certificate, a letter from the First Lady Ann LePage, and a button. The Wiscasset High School Acapella group performed beautifully under the direction of music teacher Molly Winchenbach. State board chair James Banks helped present the awards. Proud Wiscasset art teachers Donna Barnes, Molly Carlson, Sarah Sutter, and Tom Block attended. Tom received the “Golden Paintbrush award” as he retires after 37 years in the classroom.
Carol Trimble, Executive Director from the Maine Alliance for Arts Education, presented the Administrator Advocate Arts award to Stewart Kestenbaum and the Bill Bonyun Artist/Educator award to Susan Webster. They have contributed many years to arts education programs for young people.
Tom Block and students perform at the Department
Student artists, their parents and invited guests moved from the Blaine House to the Department where they went on a guided tour of the exhibit. Music groups performed in the lobby area of the Department where staff and visitors could appreciate the musical selections. It was an arts education afternoon in Augusta!
me arts ed 
So cool… the artwork in the hallways of the department always brightens my day 🙂
Argy, Thank you so much for organizing the reception and awards for the students! The opportunity to hang their work at the DOE was wonderful – the event was delicious icing on the cake! Here are some more pictures from the afternoon:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whs12/sets/72157626923388904/
and a link to the video of Abby and Carolyn performing with Tom at the DOE:
I loved the Golden Paintbrush award for Tom’s 37 years of teaching Art.
Thank you so much for all you do for Arts Education in Maine!!!
It is so wonderful that you took the time to post the video. I LOVE IT! Need to link to it from a blog post. It was a fun day that which needs to be repeated for years to come. Having students and parents and teachers at the Department for the Arts was GRAND! Thank you for all you do Sarah to make kids and adults lives richer!