By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

CANAJOHARIE — On Friday evening, a student art show opened at the Arkell Museum at Canajoharie. 75 students from each level of the Canajoharie Central School District — ”a sampling from each of the schools”, according to High School Art Teacher Kathy VanLoan — are represented in the show, which will remain open through the end of March.

The annual CCS art show has been going on for decades, with VanLoan commenting that she remembers it taking place when she was a student. Up until the Canajoharie High School moved from the lot now containing the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library’s parking lot and sound reducing berms, VanLoan said she’d send students over to help install the annual show.

The art show went on break briefly during the construction of the Arkell Museum, and began again in the new, prestigious space once it was completed, with each school’s teachers — VanLoan, Elementary Art Teacher Keith Baker, and Middle School Art Teacher Michelle Egelston — gathering weeks prior to the show to assemble, prepare and install the work.

Narrowing down the selection of student art is not always an easy process. Egelston, who has 200 students, said that she often chooses art based not only on the individual piece, but how it relates to those around it. “Say I have a very colorful pop-art piece — I may want to show something next to it that has a bit of contrast,” she explained.

VanLoan noted that she pulls pieces throughout the year and saves them so that every high school project is represented. Baker noted that VanLoan also helps him with his selection process, because, since she doesn’t personally know the elementary students he teaches, she’s able to focus solely on each piece, concerned primarily with composition.

A vast selection of styles is represented in the student art show, including abstract surrealist sculptures, Andy Warhol inspired pop art, and post impressionist pieces by Egelston’s middle school students. Baker’s kindergarten through fifth grade students have nature- and insect-focused watercolors in the show, along with self portraits, and sculptures created by his high-school students.

VanLoan’s students created Egyptian art, as she explained that her classes collaborate on three projects each year with social studies classes, where students researched Egyptian gods and goddesses. VanLoan’s students also created large flower paintings in complementary colors, and worked on projects featuring found objects, including altered books. Every year, the library saves the books they’re planning to throw away, donating them to CCS for such work.

Egelston noted that seeing her students’ work displayed each year “feels really good.”

“Not only the space it’s in, but viewing the art and watching the students grow,” is exciting, she said, explaining that it’s a thrill to see students she formerly had in middle school evolving into well-rounded artists at the high school level.

Baker, who noted that he annually looks forward to seeing parents that he taught in elementary school there with his current students, commented of the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library, “The chance that they let us do this in this space — it means a lot to the kids, and they’re always thrilled about it.”

Van Loan agreed, stating “It’s such an honor for the students.”

In the near future, Van Loan and Egelston’s students will collaborate on a Canajoharie-focused mosaic, which will hang in the high school, unveiled on the night of the budget vote May 21. The two teachers worked on a grant together, raising enough money as of Thursday to bring a visiting artist from Boston, who will work on the project with middle and high school students for two weeks.

More images in the Seen section.