Westview to host first fine arts gala

Dani Messick, Goshen News, Ind.
·2 min read

May 14—TOPEKA — Westview Jr.-Sr. High is combining its fine arts programs into one massive celebration.

There will be two evenings of music performances, one for the junior high on Wednesday and one for the high school on Friday, but throughout the evenings, there will be nearly a thousand student art pieces displayed for the school's art show.

The high school performance begins with the band at 7 p.m. The art gala opens at 6 p.m. Bands, choirs, and orchestras will perform, and between each performance, there will be awards presentations. The exhibit will remain open until around 9 p.m. Drinks and refreshments will be served.

The junior high concert will be on Wednesday, and the plans are to have all the art displayed by then. It will remain open for students and staff to view on Thursday and will be again open to the public on Friday during the high school's concert.

Historically, the gala has opened on the Friday of the shows, but this year, with some creative scheduling, the school was able to develop one massive fine arts gala. Martin explained that in the years past, the school hosted a fine arts opening gala on Friday night just for artists, with junior high and high school concerts on Sunday, but this year they wanted to combine the fine arts into one big event celebrating all artists in the school.

Martin said the artwork will cover the walls from the concession stands all the way to the auditorium.

"Our goal is always to splatter the walls of the whole hallway as much as we can," she said.

While she didn't count, the art teacher suggested there may be as many as 1,000 pieces of art that will adorn the section of the school.

Students in seventh through 12th grades can submit any work they're proud of, which is judged separately in both a junior high art show and a high school art show, although some eighth-grade students taking high school art classes were also entered into the high school competition.

Visitors will also be permitted to vote on a Viewer's Choice winner during Friday's gala.

Artwork was judged before hanging and sorted into its categories.

Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.