Students in Corry Area School District will celebrate the creative accomplishments of its K-12 students at a special art exhibition on Wednesday, May 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Bracken Room at the Corry Higher Education Council, 221 N. Center St.
The community wide event will display artwork created throughout the current academic year by students from all grade levels across the district’s four buildings.
Community members, students and their families are invited to attend the exhibition at any point during the evening to view the diverse collection of student artwork. The pieces on display represent the collaborative efforts of art educators from across the district, including Amanda Knepp from the middle school, Tina Flook from the intermediate school, Megan Brooks from the primary school, and Janelle Turk from the high school.
“It is a great honor to have artwork selected for the exhibition,” noted Turk, emphasizing the selective nature of the showcase and the achievement it represents for participating students. Teachers recently notified students whose work has been chosen for display at the event.
The exhibition will feature a particularly noteworthy highlight — the work of Makenzie Patterson, who has the distinction of being the first advanced placement studio art drawing student at Corry Area Middle-High School. Patterson has created an extensive portfolio that will be submitted to the college board for evaluation, with the potential to earn three transferable college credits. Her advanced placement drawings and ceramic works will be prominently featured at the exhibition.
Patterson plans to attend PennWest Edinboro with a major in ceramics, making her AP coursework directly relevant to her future academic pursuits. As her art teacher, Turk has guided her through this rigorous college-level program.
Adding to the collaborative spirit of the event, several high school seniors and juniors will volunteer their time to assist with exhibition setup while also having their own artwork displayed. These student volunteers include Aubrey Chase, Aivon Vandervort, Ava Whiteley, Halle Beach, Ellie Simmons, Addy Lilley and Patterson.
Three students draw a still life of a skeleton. Facing away from the camera is junior Baylee Davis; seniors Makenzie Patterson and Ava Whiteley are seated on the other side of the table.
The CASD art department expressed gratitude to the Corry Higher Education Council for providing the venue space, specifically thanking Executive Director Dr. Matthew Platz for making the facility available. The department also acknowledged the support of CASD administration in backing the art department’s programming.
“This exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for the community to witness the creative learning and growth our students achieve in the K-12 visual arts program within our district,” Turk said, expressing enthusiasm about welcoming community members to the event and anticipating reactions to the student artwork.
The exhibition serves as both a celebration of student achievement and a window into the comprehensive visual arts education taking place throughout CASD. From elementary-level creativity to advanced placement college-preparatory work, the showcase demonstrates the progression and development that characterizes the district’s art program.
The event is free and open to the public.