VINCENT - After decades of teaching Barlow-Vincent Elementary students the basics of art and seeing the colorful, creative results, Sandra Young said she can still be surprised - and often is - with what children can create.
The entire community will be able to take a look starting Monday, as the school, along with Warren High School, holds its annual art exhibit, featuring work from high school art students and nearly every student at Barlow-Vincent.
"You just don't think they can come up with some of the things they do," said Young, who coordinates the show with her twin sister Sylvia, Warren High School's art teacher. "The creativity with these little ones is so spontaneous. We try to pull it out of them and even they're surprised with what they can do."
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KATE YORK The Marietta Times
Barlow-Vincent Elementary eighth-grader Summar Yenawine hangs a piece of art on a table already filled with clay plates of food Thursday in preparation for the school’s art exhibit.
Art is on display throughout both schools, in the hallways, lobbies and filling the elementary gym.
"It's a pretty cool thing," said Warren High School senior Bryan Gerber, 18, who has a piece on display. "I don't think a lot of schools do this."
For the students who work on the pieces all year, the exhibit is a special time, said junior Noah Baumgartel, 17, who will have two pieces on his high school's walls.
Fact Box
If You Go
What: Warren High School and Barlow-Vincent Elementary Art Exhibit.
When: Monday through Thursday during school hours; open house 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Where: Throughout both schools.
"We're usually the art kids down in the basement (classroom)," he said. "This is the one time we can remind people of our existence."
The show typically draws a lot of people into the buildings. Those individuals will be treated to paintings, murals, clay work, a wall of colorful flowers in the elementary school and larger-than-life characters filling the high school hall and each standing as tall as several men.
"We get parents coming in in the morning before work or after school," said Sandra Young. "We get a big turnout."
The show is open Monday through Thursday during school hours with an open house from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Students, along with the Youngs, have spent the past week hanging and displaying the hundreds of works of art in both schools.
It's given Barlow-Vincent eighth-grader Summar Yenawine an opportunity to enjoy the artwork of her classmates, she said.
"There's a junk construction project that's really good," she said, pointing to two "people" made of cardboard, soda cans and other junk items. "It's pretty unique."
For some of the students, the showcase is the culmination of nearly a year of work.
"It feels good to have it on display," said Warren High School senior Rachel Aeberli, 18, of her painting of a Hawaiian beach. "I just like to express myself."
There's plenty of pride in the work, said Gerber, but no nerves when showtime comes around.
"We're our own worst critics," he said. "I think everyone else will like it."
