Hedgcoxe Elementary School hosts annual art day

On the morning of March 22, Hedgcoxe Elementary School was abuzz with activity.

In one room, students were quietly learning the art of calligraphy. In another, they listened to live accordion and classical guitar. Down the hall, they made art using watercolors.

More than 80 artists were at the school for the 22nd year of "Celebrate the Arts," a program that dedicates an entire day to the arts in an effort to expose students to as many different art forms as possible.

Each grade level goes through a series of sessions led by different artists throughout the day, ranging from an ice sculptor to a jazz harpist, said Linda Arbolino, a music teacher aT the school and one of the founders of the program.

"Our children look forward to it greatly," she said. "The hands-on experiences are absolutely incredible for our children. They meet the artist, they interact with the artist and the artist leads them in a session featuring his art."

The artists come from both the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the school's own campus community, with many parents contributing their skills and talents for the event. bands from the school's feeder system also perform, such as the Plano Senior High Jazz Band, which kicked off the most recent program in the school gym.

Walter Land, a Dallas-based "cut paper" artist, has participated for two consecutive years. He layers different colors and textures of paper to create images such as athletes, lions and zebras.

Land's demonstration shows students how he sketches his pieces out beforehand and plans what colors and shapes to layer to create the final image. Students can then create their own art using a basic template and the same layering techniques he uses to create his elaborate pieces.

"That's where the creative process is," he said.

The program, which is made possible by more than 30 volunteers, is entirely funded by the Hedgcoxe PTA, an organization Arbolino said has won awards for its fundraising efforts.

Students shouldn't expect a day free from class work, Arbolino said. The artists' work is tied directly into curriculum wherever possible, she said.

"Chamberlain Ballet comes out and does scenes from the Nutcracker with the first-graders, because they study the Nutcracker in music class," she said. "Then she stays and they do a session later on with classical ballet and sports for the fourth-graders and tie the two in together."

Principal Kristi Graham said the program allows students to see the arts up close and experience its value in allowing one to express his or her thoughts, feelings and emotions.

"It is always fun to see our students participate after graduating from high school or college," Graham said in an email. "The day brings our community together by involving our school and district staff members, parent presenters and volunteers, as well as former and current students."

For Arbolino, the event is all about making the arts accessible.

"I want them to see that creatively has no limits," she said. "Age has no limitations with art. We have had dancers in our building age 2 and piano players age 70, so to participate in the arts is an opportunity for creativity, it's an opportunity for an emotional outlet. ... It gives an opportunity for people to express themselves in ways that words cannot."

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