Kadena Middle School hosts Artist of the Quarter art show

Artists of the Quarter is a new program at KMS. Created by Visual Arts teacher Nina Fiorucci, the program is intended to bolster the school community's engagement with the visual arts department.

The art show was set up in the Information Center with the goal to be very accessible and seen by as many students and staff as possible. Artworks range from classwork to individual projects from home and include 2D and 3D works. Students and staff were invited to view the display and vote for their favorite artwork. The voting aspect helped encourage students, especially at the middle school level, engage with the art show on a deeper level and motivated them to spend more time connecting with works they appreciate.

While the purpose of the art show is not to be a competition, the voting aspect is included to take the opportunity to reward two students for excellence in art. The Artists of the Quarter receive recognition and the winning artworks are displayed in the trophy case outside the KMS Information Center (IC) for the next Quarter.

Fiorucci said students have expressed pride in seeing their artwork presented professionally and taken seriously.

"Sometimes the talent of our art students is not seen outside of the classroom walls because, typically, when we finish a project, students then immediately take it home,” Fiorucci said. “I wanted to start a program that highlights and rewards student work that was more than just one year-end art show. By allowing students to submit any artwork, not just classwork, it is also an opportunity for students to show their personal art interests and passions. We have such talented students!"

The first Artists of the Quarter show was a great success, with 34 submissions and almost half of the school voting. The top artwork crowned “Artist of the Quarter” was an oil pastel and watercolor illustration of flowers. Earning honorable mention was a finger puppet sculpture of popular animation characters made of plaster.

The Artist of the Quarter program is not only a fun way to exhibit students' artwork, but also an avenue to promote the visual arts in the school community.