Budding local artists will cast a spell on the community during the Arts R Magic Festival at Stephen Decatur High School, Thursday, Jan. 14.
Students in grades 9-12 will showcase their creative efforts in visual photography, painting, drawing and crafts. There will also be dance and music performances as well as literary readings.
But according to event organizer and art teacher, Mary Ann Fardelmann, the magic in the semiannual festival isn’t in the art work, it’s in recognizing student’s talents – whether in the fine arts or in non-traditional activities.
“We take a look at talents that are school appropriate. We just want to showcase a variety of things that students are talented with,” said Fardelmann, who has been involved with the event for four years.
In the festival’s six years, students have performed hip-hop numbers, juggled, choreographed rifle routines, read short fiction and perform in a band. According to Fardelmann, one student even made a variety of paper airplanes and hosted paper-folding demonstrations during a past festival.
“We just said, ‘go for it.’ Anyone who wants to get involved in any way, we promote that,” she said.
The Arts R Magic Festival started six years ago, when English teacher Dawn Russell-Marriner wanted to celebrate student’s artistic talents not only in the arts departments, but school wide. Russell-Marriner spearheaded the project, with assistance from other teachers in the event’s first year, Fardelmann said.
This year, 40 to 50 students are involved in the event, including students that help coordinate the event. Teachers recruit students by putting up flyers in hallways, making announcements and talking with them about their individual talents.
“It’s also word of mouth, really. [Students] start talking with their friends and that’s how we get some bands involved,” Fardelmann said. “Ms. Marriner is very enthusiastic about the arts. Two years ago when we were promoting it, she wrote and performed a rap about Arts R Magic and performed it on morning announcements.”
Visual art displays and singing performers will be located in the main hallway near the front doors and the media center. The black box theater and the auditorium will also be used for events.
There will be a map of venues, and a brochure of 10- to 15-minute performances for attendees. Students will also go down hallways and alert attendees of scheduled performances.
“Attendance varies each year, so it’s going to be interesting to see how turnout goes this year,” Fardelmann said. “But I think this year is going to be great.”
The Arts R Magic Festival will be Stephen Decatur High School, off Route 50 at 9913 Seahawk Road, on Jan. 14 from 6-8 p.m. Admission is free.
Students in grades 9-12 will showcase their creative efforts in visual photography, painting, drawing and crafts. There will also be dance and music performances as well as literary readings.
But according to event organizer and art teacher, Mary Ann Fardelmann, the magic in the semiannual festival isn’t in the art work, it’s in recognizing student’s talents – whether in the fine arts or in non-traditional activities.
“We take a look at talents that are school appropriate. We just want to showcase a variety of things that students are talented with,” said Fardelmann, who has been involved with the event for four years.
In the festival’s six years, students have performed hip-hop numbers, juggled, choreographed rifle routines, read short fiction and perform in a band. According to Fardelmann, one student even made a variety of paper airplanes and hosted paper-folding demonstrations during a past festival.
“We just said, ‘go for it.’ Anyone who wants to get involved in any way, we promote that,” she said.
The Arts R Magic Festival started six years ago, when English teacher Dawn Russell-Marriner wanted to celebrate student’s artistic talents not only in the arts departments, but school wide. Russell-Marriner spearheaded the project, with assistance from other teachers in the event’s first year, Fardelmann said.
This year, 40 to 50 students are involved in the event, including students that help coordinate the event. Teachers recruit students by putting up flyers in hallways, making announcements and talking with them about their individual talents.
“It’s also word of mouth, really. [Students] start talking with their friends and that’s how we get some bands involved,” Fardelmann said. “Ms. Marriner is very enthusiastic about the arts. Two years ago when we were promoting it, she wrote and performed a rap about Arts R Magic and performed it on morning announcements.”
Visual art displays and singing performers will be located in the main hallway near the front doors and the media center. The black box theater and the auditorium will also be used for events.
There will be a map of venues, and a brochure of 10- to 15-minute performances for attendees. Students will also go down hallways and alert attendees of scheduled performances.
“Attendance varies each year, so it’s going to be interesting to see how turnout goes this year,” Fardelmann said. “But I think this year is going to be great.”
The Arts R Magic Festival will be Stephen Decatur High School, off Route 50 at 9913 Seahawk Road, on Jan. 14 from 6-8 p.m. Admission is free.