Artistic talents of Bucyrus students on display at ArtFest '24

ArtFest ‘24 Visual Art Show and Music Performances in Bucyrus High School and Middle School gymnasiums Thursday impressed its guests.

“It is one of the largest district events this school year,” said Curriculum Director Jonathan Muro.

Art teacher Matt Feck said the annual festival includes a collection of artwork from the beginning to the end of the school year. One of the novelties this year is that fused glass objects were added to display.

Students participated in the Mid-Ohio Educational Service annual fine arts exhibit Artapolooza before the school ArtFest, and three students earned honorable mentions there – sixth grader Vayda Atwood, sophomore Eva Beal and senior Evelyn Skidmore.

“We did really well there, and I think a lot of students are thrilled to get to share all this with their family and their friends and the community,” Feck said.

ArtFest categories included paintings, sculpture and others based on individual understanding of what is creative and innovative. Judges included Betsy Gerhart, Cathy Feasel and Casey Yonts.

Bucyrus Secondary School Arts Fest award winners

Middle School

• Painting – 1^st Vayda Atwood (6^th Grade), 2^nd Addelyn Stitzlein (6^th Grade), 3^rd Victoria Stang (8^th Grade)

• Drawing – 1^st Vayda Atwood (6^th Grade), 2^nd Laila Wills (7^th Grade), 3^rd Kailey Shope (6^th Grade)

• Sculpture – 1^st Makinsey Weiler (7^th Grade), 2^nd Serenity Potts (7^th Grade), 3^rd Vayda Atwood (6^th Grade)

• Honorable Mention – Makinsey Weiler (7^th Grade), Michaelee Williams (8^th Grade), Tateeona Lambert (8^th Grade)

High School

• Glass – 1^st Kierra Cole (10^th Grade), 2^nd Layla Swerlein (10^th Grade), 3^rd Grady Weber (10^th Grade)

• Painting – 1^st Harper Boggs (12^th Grade), 2^nd Reese Garvin (9^th Grade), 3^rd Quin Ross (9^th Grade)

• Drawing – 1^st Evelyn Skidmore (12^th Grade), 2^nd Mack Booth (10^th Grade), 3^rd Madelyn Weiler (9^th Grade)

• Sculpture/Ceramics – 1^st Natalie Hankins (12^th Grade), 2^nd Natalie Hankins (12^th Grade), 3^rd Adria Taylor (12^th Grade)

• Special Effects – 1^st Asher Swerlein (9^th Grade), 2^nd McKenzie Rowland (10^th Grade), 3^rd Chris Neale (12^th Grade)

• Honorable Mention – Maddie Hubble (12^th Grade), Selena Evans (9^th Grade), Evelyn Skidmore (12^th Grade), Celeste Thornton (9^th Grade), Kierra Cole (10^th Grade), Layla Swerlein (10^th Grade), Kendra Blizzard (12^th Grade), Kalynda Tornquist (10^th Grade)

Elementary School awards

The art from elementary students included Van Gigh’s sunflowers replicas, optical illusion experiments, collages and more.

Elementary art teacher Mary Ellen Myers said all the kids took turns riding the bus to visit the ArtFest. Even though places are not awarded for elementary school art, students enjoyed the event.

“They all love to see their name in print,” Myers said.

Christine Engelhorn said she comes to the festival every year with her children because it is a great way to support arts in the community, and she loves the kids’ artwork.

“We've been coming since my ninth grader was in kindergarten,” Engelhorn said.

Jennifer Gerger said she came to see the works of her granddaughter, Adelynn Stitzlein, 12. Stitzlein said she and her best friend, Vayda Atwood, were awarded second and first places, respectively.

Gerger said she is always impressed with Bucyrus City Schools art exhibits, and the kids are very talented.

Natosha Keaton said they came to support their daughter whose artwork was on display. Keaton said she was impressed with everything.

“I can't believe how much talent is in high school, and I should know because this is definitely where the talent begins,” Keaton said. “But man, if this is what they're doing in high school, I can't wait to see what they do in five years and 10 years down the road.”

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: ArtFest 24 features works done by Bucyrus City Schools students