Friday, December 05, 2008

Students to be in art exhibition

LAURI ZACHRY
Education Reporter

Friday, December 05, 2008


Gattis Elementary art students now have more opportunities to promote and showcase their work through contests and online art galleries.

Gattis art teacher Donna Staten this week taught kindergarten through fifth-grade students how to draw nutcrackers and allowed students to view her extensive collection of nutcrackers.

In a few weeks, Staten will submit those illustrations to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum in Washington.

This is also the first year Gattis Elementary art students will participate in the 39th annual International Children's Art Exhibition based out of Japan. Staten has sent 24 original artworks from Gattis students for entry in this competition.

Judges will release their results in May 2009 for the Japanese Foreign Minister's Award, Supreme Gold Award, Gold Award, Silver Award and Bronze Award.

Students and their grade levels who will have artwork judged in this competition are: Kara Barfield, Carli Bolger, Alex Cornett and Alexandra Rabadi, fifth-grade; Alyssa Forcier, Loreana Rios, Kamil Thompson, Jade Trent and Nya Williams, fourth-grade; Natalee Geren, Bethany Hill, Austin Robichaud, Jesus Titsworth and Aldrian Widjaja, third-grade; Michelle Silva, Tristan Sullivan and Jenna Wroten, second-grade; Lexie Cooper, Gabriel Martinez, Sofia Orozco and Roberto Rios, first-grade and Olivia Feher, Emma Juren and Lily Moron, kindergarten.

Staten worked as an art teacher for 23 years in Temple ISD. This is her first year as a teacher at Gattis Elementary and as a teacher in Round Rock ISD. Staten works alongside Gattis art teacher Cynthia Hendry.

"I want students to know each one of them is an artist," Staten said. "I want students to see this classroom as a peaceful place that students want to come to and work on art.

"There are numerous opportunities to showcase your art out there. You just have to find them. Those opportunities make students have a life-long passion for art."

Gattis art students have also maintained a No. 1 ranking on artsonia.com, an online student art gallery which started nine years ago. Students can go on artsonia.com and create fan clubs so friends and family can comment on their artwork. Students can also earn Blue Ribbon awards by having five artworks, five fan club members and five comments about their work. When students achieve all three blue ribbons, they earn a Hall of Fame trophy.

Along with submitting art to the international competition in Japan and the more statewide-centered artsonia.com, 21 Gattis students are featured in the 2008-09 Crayola online art exhibition at crayola.com.

These Gattis students are: Florelle Binoya, Jacob Norris, Emma Juren, Elise Arzola, Lexie Cooper, Kevin Dooley, Janice Faada, Gabriel Martinez, Sofia Orozco, Kaitlynn Ray, Hannah Lucky, Evelyn Mendez, Gabriella Alvarez, Alyssa Forcier, Joel Gutierrez, Loreana Rios, Moriah Rogers, Jade Trent, Kara Barfield, Kaleb Mussa and Evan Perez.

Up to 10 winners in each grade will be chosen for publication in the 2008-09 Crayola art book. First-, second- and third-place winners will receive cash prizes and publication in the book. Crayola will announce the winners in the spring.

Staten said one of her favorite memories involving seeing her art students reach their full potential happened when one of her students rode on a float she designed for the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

Staten's students have learned about art through entering contests. They've begun seeing art as more than an in-school activity.

"I really like this class," said fourth-grade student Camryn Lewandowski. "We get to sketch, relax and listen to music while we are working."

"Art comes from your head, heart and imagination," said third-grade student Victor Winston.

For more information on the accomplishments of Gattis Elementary art students, visit artsonia.com/ schools/gattis1.