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Saturday, November 22, 2014
THE WENATCHEE WORLD
Wenatchee fifth-graders show of sculptures in new Beauty of Bronze exhibit
by Jeanette Marantos / Contributing reader
THE WENATCHEE WORLD
Wenatchee fifth-graders show of sculptures in new Beauty of Bronze exhibit
by Jeanette Marantos / Contributing reader
Photo provided/Jeanette Marantos. Artist Kevin Pettelle, far left, discusses his technique for creating his sculpture “Ped” to a group of Lewis & Clark fifth-graders during the tour and sketching portion of the Beauty of Bronze field days Sept. 24 in Art on the Avenues’ Sculpture Garden in Riverfront Park. Students at the far right are looking at a maquette, or small practice sculpture, of the larger, 7-foot foot.
WENATCHEE — The inspiration for art comes from all kinds of places, even for children.
Nearly 600 of Wenatchee’s fifth-grade students created small wax sculptures that have been cast into bronze as part of Art on the Avenues’ annual Beauty of Bronze program, and the reasons for creating their art are as varied as the sculptures themselves.
One fifth-grader honored her father’s heritage by creating a bronze sombrero. Another made a smiling cat for her brother in memory of his beloved pet. There are monsters, acorns, whimsical penguins, even a surfing dog. “I love dogs but I also love water, so I compromised,” explained Columbia fifth-grader Josie Flitton.
The main point, which was voiced often in their evaluations of the program, is that the students got to sculpt something that was important to them; a bronze that will last for centuries. “Your imagination comes out and takes your hands and makes your sculpture,” wrote Columbia fifth grader Levi Miles.
“The sculpting is the best because you create a moment you’ll never forget,” wrote fellow Columbia student Vanicia Cole.
The Beauty of Bronze student exhibit opens Saturday on the second floor of the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center and runs through Dec. 6. A special reception honoring the student artists is set for 5 to 8 p.m., Dec. 5, as part of the First Friday Art Walk.
Art on the Avenues’ Beauty of Bronze program began in 2004 and just completed its 11th year of teaching fifth-graders about the art in their community and what it takes to be an artist. This year, the program involved every fifth-grader in Wenatchee’s seven public elementary schools as well as the Wenatchee River Academy.
Students spent a day working with Sultan sculptor Kevin Pettelle, discussing how he became an artist and the techniques he used to create two of his sculptures in Wenatchee, “Single Point” in the Wenatchee Center and “Ped” in the Art on the Avenues Sculpture Garden in Riverfront Park. Students also toured backstage at the Numerica Performing Arts Center, sketched sculptures in Riverfront Park and worked in small groups of four to create sculptures out of natural materials during the Andy Goldsworthy Challenge before making their small sculptures.
The Beauty of Bronze program is funded entirely by grants and in-kind support. This year’s funders include the Robert B. McMillen Foundation, the Washington State Arts Commission through a grant to the Wenatchee Arts Education Consortium, the North Central Washington Foundation for Youth, the Community Foundation of North Central Washington, Puget Sound Energy, the Wenatchee School District, the parents of River Academy, the fifth-graders of Mission View Elementary School and the PTSAs of Abraham Lincoln, John Newbery, Lewis & Clark, Sunnyslope and Washington elementary schools, with in-kind support from the Wenatchee School District, Numerica Performing Arts Center, Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center and Columbia Colstor.
Jeanette Marantos is coordinator of Art on the Avenues’ Beauty of Bronze program. For more information about Art on the Avenues, visit artontheavenues.org.
Nearly 600 of Wenatchee’s fifth-grade students created small wax sculptures that have been cast into bronze as part of Art on the Avenues’ annual Beauty of Bronze program, and the reasons for creating their art are as varied as the sculptures themselves.
One fifth-grader honored her father’s heritage by creating a bronze sombrero. Another made a smiling cat for her brother in memory of his beloved pet. There are monsters, acorns, whimsical penguins, even a surfing dog. “I love dogs but I also love water, so I compromised,” explained Columbia fifth-grader Josie Flitton.
The main point, which was voiced often in their evaluations of the program, is that the students got to sculpt something that was important to them; a bronze that will last for centuries. “Your imagination comes out and takes your hands and makes your sculpture,” wrote Columbia fifth grader Levi Miles.
“The sculpting is the best because you create a moment you’ll never forget,” wrote fellow Columbia student Vanicia Cole.
The Beauty of Bronze student exhibit opens Saturday on the second floor of the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center and runs through Dec. 6. A special reception honoring the student artists is set for 5 to 8 p.m., Dec. 5, as part of the First Friday Art Walk.
Art on the Avenues’ Beauty of Bronze program began in 2004 and just completed its 11th year of teaching fifth-graders about the art in their community and what it takes to be an artist. This year, the program involved every fifth-grader in Wenatchee’s seven public elementary schools as well as the Wenatchee River Academy.
Students spent a day working with Sultan sculptor Kevin Pettelle, discussing how he became an artist and the techniques he used to create two of his sculptures in Wenatchee, “Single Point” in the Wenatchee Center and “Ped” in the Art on the Avenues Sculpture Garden in Riverfront Park. Students also toured backstage at the Numerica Performing Arts Center, sketched sculptures in Riverfront Park and worked in small groups of four to create sculptures out of natural materials during the Andy Goldsworthy Challenge before making their small sculptures.
The Beauty of Bronze program is funded entirely by grants and in-kind support. This year’s funders include the Robert B. McMillen Foundation, the Washington State Arts Commission through a grant to the Wenatchee Arts Education Consortium, the North Central Washington Foundation for Youth, the Community Foundation of North Central Washington, Puget Sound Energy, the Wenatchee School District, the parents of River Academy, the fifth-graders of Mission View Elementary School and the PTSAs of Abraham Lincoln, John Newbery, Lewis & Clark, Sunnyslope and Washington elementary schools, with in-kind support from the Wenatchee School District, Numerica Performing Arts Center, Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center and Columbia Colstor.
Jeanette Marantos is coordinator of Art on the Avenues’ Beauty of Bronze program. For more information about Art on the Avenues, visit artontheavenues.org.