Local School’s Art Exhibition Goes Virtual May 18th Amid COVID-19 Quarantine
Sallie B. Howard School (SBHS) was just weeks away from hosting one of their biggest events of the year when the COVID-19 crisis struck. The 23-year old K-8 charter school in Wilson, North Carolina had been preparing for its annual Art Gala, a festive showcase of the work of over 200 student artists in grades 2nd through 8th. When schools closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all plans came to a halt.
“The students were very sad and disappointed,” says SBHS Art Teacher Carrie Nobles. “They had worked so hard on their projects all year and they were looking forward to presenting their work.”
Rather than cancel the Art Gala, Nobles and the Visual Art team began brainstorming ways to preserve the event. With the help of SBH Multimedia Teacher David Ponce, they decided to present the Gala in digital form. Using animation software, Ponce and his middle school Multimedia students put together a special video featuring the students’ artwork displayed around the school halls, similar to the real show. Watch a sneak peek of the Gala:
“The video will take you on a virtual walk-through of this amazing gallery exhibition of our students’ art,” says Nobles. “It’s an innovative way to present their work, and allows us to create a sense of excitement and freshness for the event.”
The virtual Art Gala will launch Monday, May 18 at salliebhowardschool.com and will also be available on the school’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
This year’s theme for the event is “Art Speaks.” The students used this subject to address issues such as identity, self-image, saving endangered species, and maintaining healthy eating habits.
“We teach our students that art is a visual language that expresses our deepest thoughts and concerns. We can use art to bring awareness to topics that are often difficult to talk about,” says Nobles.
Helping students find their artistic voice is a key facet of the Visual Art curriculum at Sallie B. Howard. Students are trained on technique, skill, and self-expression, and are exposed to various careers in Art to encourage them to pursue art as a profession. The school will expand its Art program to a high school level when the new Sallie B. Howard High School of Arts and Science opens this Fall.
Here is some of the fabulous artwork that will be exhibited during “Art Speaks” Virtual Art Exhibition:
