Student Artists Going Green

http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2013/04/11/student-artists-going-green

Jordan Aubertin for The Tribune, Friday, April 12, 2013 9:06:25 EDT AM

Lakeshore Catholic High School art teachers Ewelina Fanfara and Vanessa Iannantuono with students Alissa Aarts, Hannah Visser, Hannah Dobbie, Samantha Goss and Melanie Newman.

PORT COLBORNE – It’s a green theme art show.

Lakeshore Catholic High School in Port Colborne will be taking part in the fourth annual Green Art Show being held at Arts Place Gallery in Port Colborne on the weekend of April 20 and 21.

The show which runs noon to 5 p.m. both days is meant for local artists and students to showcase their art dealing with a green theme.

Visitors will vote on the pieces they think best portray a quality in one of several categories, says Dean Tedesco, executive director of Community Artists Niagara. The winners of the categories will be rewarded with money or donated prizes from local businesses.

The show will have about 15 pieces of art from Lakeshore students, says high school art teacher Vanessa Iannantuono. Students have been working on their pieces for about two and a half weeks.

The artwork is done in a mixed media style — “that just means you’re creating artwork out of a variety of mediums.”

The artwork that the students made is created from conventional means, like paint and plaster, as well as by using different items found around the house, including recyclables, green products and any other objects the students theme of green could encompass to create an environmentally-friendly message.

“It’s really important for them (students) to experience what the art community has to offer beyond our school,” says Iannantuono.

The gallery gives the students a chance to “get some real world experience with what you can do with art beyond taking it in high school.”

Port Colborne High School will also be taking part in the exhibition.

Jordan Aubertin is a Niagara College journalism student on co-op placement at The Tribune.