Recently, Indian Mills Elementary School held its annual Arts Festival for students and parents alike. Kim Shaw-Hartman oversaw the art show portion of the day, while Kim Martin’s music students entranced those assembled for this special event.
The art show featured the creative imaginative works of Indian Mills School students ranging from Kindergarten through fourth grade. The kindergarten students discussed, learned, and applied their knowledge of influential artists such as: Mondrian, Picasso, Van Gogh, and Henri Matisse. Artwork replicated these great artists and was prominently displayed throughout the school. The first through fourth grade focused on Native American art, including: the Mayans, Incas, Aztec, as well as, the Indians of the Southwestern, Northwestern, and Northeastern United States. The students created clay pots, weaved with yarn and paper, and worked with mixed media to replicate Native American artistic pieces, with an emphasis on the use of natural resources.
When asked about the student work, Shaw-Hartman was enthusiastic in her praise for her budding artists. She stated, “It is amazing to see how far these students have advanced in such a short period of time. It invigorates and encourages all the teachers to move deeper into these types of projects because the children are so eager to delve into the themes”. As parents and teachers moved about the festival, it was obvious that there was a great deal of pride in what their students, children, and grandchildren had accomplished.
