Artapolooza festival opens Friday, runs through March 29
Students from 19 school districts submitted pieces for Artapolooza.
"We're trying to figure out where to put them all," said Jennifer Pennell, gifted education consultant for the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center. "We might have to spill out into the lobby space."
It's a good problem to have.
The annual festival will take place Friday through March 29 at Mid-Ohio's conference center, 890 W. Fourth St.
"This year's exhibition is shaping up to be quite the event," Pennell said. "We wanted to make this a true celebration of the arts, so we are including some musical performances as well."
Those will be courtesy of three groups from Madison Middle School beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. In addition, there will be gallery hours throughout the weekend.
Friday hours are a first
"We've never had a Friday. I wanted to give it a try," said Pennell, who is coordinating the event with Sherri Richter.
As in previous years, Artapolooza features all types of visual arts projects, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, mixed media and digital art.
Students from all area schools, not just MOESC member districts in Richland, Crawford and Morrow counties, were eligible to submit projects for the festival.
As part of Artapolooza, an artists' workshop will be held March 28 for middle school and high school students and their teachers.
Learn basics of graphic novels and comic books
Luke Beekman of DoJo Comics will present "Art and Story Fundamentals." Students will learn the basics of graphic novel and comic book design, including character and story design.
"Leveraging interest in the arts as an entry point to improving literacy is a great way to hone essential disciplinary skills required for college/career and beyond," said Carrie Wood, director of teaching and learning.
Richter, the gifted education consultant, added, "It's a great way to incorporate literacy with art in a format that students can relate to."
The awards presentation will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 29 in the Artist's Hall. Pennell said it was in response to audience request for theater seating and projecting the winning art pieces on screen.
In addition, a slideshow presentation and gallery walk will be available on MOESC's website at the end of the event.
"This will allow the public to be able to view the gallery and awards virtually as well," Pennell said.
Gallery hours will be 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, as well as 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 27-29.
"Artapolooza is about celebrating the arts, something that is important to every child's education," Pennell said. "We are supporting the belief from the Ohio Department of Education that education in fine arts is essential in developing the whole child."
mcaudill@gannett.com
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Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Artapolooza festival coming to Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center
