For Immediate Release
Contact: Holly Brooker
(845) 255-1450 xt.1301 Annual Students’ Arts Exhibit Showcases Creative Works

From his painted perch upon a tree, the Cheshire Cat smiled toothily as he greeted guests to a wonderland of art at the third annual Students’ Arts Exhibit and reception recently held at the Ulster BOCES Center for Alternative Education in Port Ewen. Featured displays of student artwork included an Alice in Wonderland mural, a variety of hand-painted silk scarves, photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures, a poetry anthology, various video and animation projects, and a collection of mosaic pots, frames, and trivets.

This event was the combined effort of teachers Lisa Conger-Langway and Patti Gibbons from the school’s art department and the ARTSTEACH and IWILL (Internships Will Initiate Leadership and Livelihood) programs. IWILL is supported by a New York State Council on the Arts Empire State Partnership grant funded by the New York State Department of Education and New York State Council on the Arts.

“Having their art on display for a showing is so very exciting for the students. They have done a magnificent job,” states Bardet Wardell, director of the ARTSTEACH program and the project coordinator for the IWILL program at the Center for Alternative Education.

“I think it is so impressive and wonderful to see art that these students have created and have it respectfully treated as though it was exhibited in a fancy gallery in New York City,” offered visitor Tara Johannessen of Rosendale as she viewed each exhibit with great interest.

According to Wardell, the ARTSTEACH and IWILL programs are integrated into the art program at the school. “We have worked to craft a program at the Alternative School to suit the needs and desires of the students.” The program is in direct alignment with the New York State Learning Standards in the Arts, as well as Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS). The program gives students universal foundation skills which, according to Wardell, turn the students on to life, work, lifetime learning, and having confidence in themselves as capable, contributing adults.

Adds Wardell, “Our goal here at the Alternative School is to stimulate interest in the arts careers that are available to creative and innovative thinkers like our students. In the future, there will be opportunities that none of us can imagine in the various fields of arts, design, computer arts, music, recreational activities, theatre, filmmaking, landscape architecture, and so much more.”