Artists emerge from walls of Cherry Valley Elementary
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner/Valley Journal Student art transforms Cherry Valley Elementary School into a colorful art gallery Tuesday, April 28.
Berl Tiskus
Cherry Valley kindergartner Kendra Brumwell’s horse hangs on the wall.
Nicole Tavenner
Children draw on paper walls, using their creativity as part of the school’s art festival.
Berl Tiskus
Berl Tiskus
Berl Tiskus
Berl Tiskus
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
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Pierre Auguste Renoir, wearing a beret and grasping a giant paintbrush, greeted guests at Cherry Valley Elementary School for the annual Night of the Arts on April 28.
Corinthian columns on canvas framed the hallways and doorway to the main gallery, and children’s art was on display all over the building.
Joanie Bowen and Helen Siemers, Cherry Valley first grade teachers, came up with the theme, “Welcome to the MET,” over dinner one night, discussing their favorite museums.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art “collects, studies, conserves and presents significant works of art across all times and cultures in order to connect people to creativity, knowledge and ideas,” according to its website metmuseum.org.
That’s what Cherry Valley’s Night of the Arts does on a smaller scale for students at the school.
“We’re showcasing the kids’ work,” Bowen said, as well as developing a love of art and expression.
The teachers were given free rein to select an artist and represent that artist anyway they chose. Artists studied included Charlie Russell, Claude Monet, Jim Dine, Henri Matisse, Lois Ehlert, Pablo Picasso, Henri Rousseau, Katsushika Hokusai and Eric Carle.
First graders in Bowen’s class studied Vincent Van Gogh and created vivid giant sunflowers, while Siemer’s pupils created cakes a la Wayne Thiebauld.
Cherry Valley kids, some dressed up for the occasion, guided family members to see their art.
Kindergartener Kendra Brumwell showed her mom and big sister a horse she painted since her class was studying Montana’s own Charlie Russell.
Older sister Ryleigh Pluid had art on display, too — a guitar painted in the style of Pablo Picasso. Her favorite things about school are recess, art and math.
Henri Rousseau’s jungle paintings were the inspiration for 7-year-old Teague McElwee’s tiger painting, although Teague’s favorite medium is pottery.
Each child had a piece of art in the main gallery, the gym; and it was a fun riddle for them to solve to find their piece.
Rooms were set up for painting, and everyone was encouraged to provide some graffiti on the walls provided.
