Sheri Samson
Students recently completed the three-week summer art program at Mineral County High.
As summer school students at the Mineral County Junior High and High School levels joined for a special formulated art program, Bea Whitney shared how wonderfully the students had absorbed the artistic concepts and the freedom of expression which was brought before them. With financial assistance of local sponsorship, this art program rolled out as a newly piloted effort which was deemed successful and worthwhile by the students, staff and district overseers. In completion of three weeks of a four-day instruction, lessons included hands-0n interaction, as well as lectures and art videos.
As a Thursday art show was presented in conclusion of the program, Whitney recognized those that had contributed with a framed gift entitled, “Here’s to the crazy ones”, which was a writing from the Apple Company’s 1997 Think Different campaign. The administration was thanked; specific staff members were appreciated; the janitorial assistance was acknowledged to Marilyn Duncan and April Brogden because “paint is messy” and individual donors were on hand to meet with the students and see the results. Recently graduated senior student, Alyssa Richmond, was also a paid assistant that contributed to the on-going success of the teaching aspects within the program.
Sarah Favero attended, representing Sinclair’s Gas and Convenience Store and the Union 76 Gas and Food Mart, both located on 5th Street in Hawthorne. With a donation of almost $720, Favero expressed her personal love for the arts and encouraged a continued effort within the scope of creative talents, so students find balance in their life and in learning.
Mount Grant General Hospital had donated $200, while Financial Horizons Credit Union contributed $100 and Safeway provided the rubber gloves. The Mineral County Council for the Arts were supportive in offering to display the student’s panels, as well as continue to include them within the organization.
Instructor Whitney eloquently shared from her heart about the importance of the arts.
“Arts in academics achieves great things as the arts teach history and sculpturing is engineering. Painting is chemistry, while theatre teaches public speaking and it is proven that dance represents health and well-being. Music touches us and is based upon the principles of math. Both sides of the brain are stimulated by the arts, so we must not ignore the importance of it all.”
As discussions were shared, it was learned that bringing back a summer school program like this had not occurred since 1976, yet foundations were established and community involvement was evident. Many were seeing a strong student interest to support the arts, with as much vigor as the sports programs receive, so that a broadening of opportunities can be explored.
To quote from Apple’s Think Differently pledge, “Here’s to the crazy ones – the misfits – the rebels – the troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently…the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
