The Evesham Township School District’s 25th annual “Eyes on Art” show once again lived up to its name this year, with crowds packing the township’s municipal complex for the show’s opening night gala this week.
As in year’s past, the first floor of the municipal building and its courtroom were effectively transformed into an art gallery, where artwork of various subject matters in various mediums covered nearly every available wall, table and surface.
In keeping with district tradition, the district arranged a mostly intermixed display, meaning artwork from students of all ages from across all the district’s elementary and middle schools was displayed together.
According to district officials, the purpose of mixing most of the displays is twofold.
First, district officials say such a display encourages spectators to view the entire show as a whole, rather than searching for just one or two specific pieces.
Second, officials say arranging the display in that manner allows visitors to experience the show’s various themes through a multitude of different viewpoints.
As for the various themes of this year’s show, subjects once again included a focus on areas such as animals, people, design, still-life, fantasy, multi-cultural pieces and nature/landscapes.
As for the main theme of this year’s show, which changes annually, the district’s art teachers selected “Pop Art” – the style of art popular in the mid-to-late 1950s, in which famed artists such as Andy Warhol would use influences or even direct imagery from popular culture and advertising in their work.
“We’re very happy to open this evening, and we have a lot of great art for you to see that all of your children have done this past school year,” said ETSD Superintendent John Scavelli Jr., as he addressed a crowd in front of the municipal building during a special ceremony at the start of the show.
The ceremony, another annual tradition, was held to commend students whose artwork was actually kept by the district after being displayed in last year’s show.
In the year since, those select pieces were framed in order to continue being displayed in various locations at the district’s administration building and throughout the municipal building.
Now, with another year past and another art show upon the district, officials returned last year’s framed pieces to the student artists so that new pieces could be selected for continued display for the year to come.
Scavelli also once again thanked the district’s art teachers and other staff for making the show possible, and he also thanked the Evesham Education Foundation for once again providing the frames for the pieces that will be displayed throughout the year.
Exhibit hours will continue weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until May 29. The show will then close the following day on May 30 at 3 p.m.
District officials continue to extend an initiation to students, families and other members of the public to attend this free art show before it ends for this year.
