THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504270150
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Mary Ellen Riddle
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
Picture a mini-cosmos with nothing but elbows jabbing egos, emerging personas flushed with raging hormones so malleable they imprint like Silly Putty.
Think of a place where intellect battles with emotions that threaten to devour a growing, learning, stretching, fragile being.
It's a middle school thing - a tossed salad of discipline and boundless exploration. And it's fertile ground for a cultural arts explosion.
This weekend, visitors to the Thomas A. Baum Center in Kill Devil Hills can see the products of such a blast at the fourth annual Dare County Middle School Art Show, sponsored by the Outer Banks Women's Club and the Manteo Women's Club.
Present at the center will be visual art, writings and drama that has bubbled up from those experiencing middle school-itis.
Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of two- and three-dimensional art, including water-color painting, pastel and pencil drawings, mixed media creations, sculptures, masks, wind catchers and more. New this year to the format is the inclusion of literary works and drama vignettes, creating a broader picture of expression.
It's bound to be an eye-opener, a pure and brave statement of being from children still defining who they are.
``These kids right now are trying to find themselves,'' said Bill Johnson, who teaches art at First Flight Middle School in Kill Devil Hills.
Johnson, who began teaching in Dare County 12 years ago, is guiding his students with a relaxed approach this year. Children are allowed to chat and listen to music, and they're given more leeway in choosing their means of expression.
Apparently this has opened the floodgates, for pouring from his classes is a collection of art that is clearly stamped with individuality.
Colington writer and photographer Steve Lautermilch reviewed the literary works submitted to the show. He looks for clarity, economy and balance in the works.
``What attracted me to the winners was the writers' ability to use their own language in a way that's both honest and courageous,'' he said.
``I feel writing is a way for people to learn what they feel and think, and in a way, help them learn and become who they are.''
At 3 p.m. Sunday, students of First Flight Middle School teacher Dora Bounds will entertain guests with short skits of their own creation. Thirteen-year-old Brandy Gibbs will perform pantomime with several of her peers.
In the realm of drama, these vivacious kids have found an acceptable way to let it all hang out.
``I love acting,'' Brandy says. ``I'm not scared to get on stage or anything. It's a way to release my stress. I get to speak out my feelings and act how I want to act.''
While the main focus of the show will be on middle school creative arts, Women's Club art chairwoman Edith Deltgen said, there is a last-minute addition. Manteo High School art students created some fascinating chairs that must be seen. Each student chose an artist in history and created a chair portrait in that artist's style. These will be displayed in the center's entranceway.
While there are a few awards, Deltgen said the show is avoiding exclusion by accepting work from any willing middle school student. The art will be strung in rows if space becomes a problem.
The show is a revealing social statement of human growth, so whether you have a child participating or not, it's worth a look.
Those fragile, gum snapping, elbow jostling, fast-growing folk have created pure poetry!
Who'd a-figured? MEMO: The fourth annual Dare County Middle School Art Show is open from 2 to 5
p.m. Saturday and from 1 to-5 p.m. Sunday. The reception will be held
Sunday afternoon.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY ELLEN RIDDLE
The annual Dare Countymiddle schools art show is a fusion of media
featuring art, drama and literature.
A FREE SAMPLE
Colington writer and photographer Steve Lautermilch, who reviewed
the literary works said, ``I feel writing is a way for people to
learn what they feel and think, and in a way, help them learn and
become who they are.''
This journey is illustrated beautifully in the work of
12-year-old Drew Hilbert, who submitted a poem, with each line
written in a different color.
DREW
COOL, NICE, SMART
BROTHER OF MARAH
LOVER OF MY MOM, FRIENDS, DOG
WHO FEELS GOOD, CLEAN, HANDSOME
WHO NEEDS A GIRL FRIEND, CAT FOOD, AND A BIKE
WHO GIVES LOVE, KINDNESS AND SUPPORT
WHO FEARS SPIDERS, SONNY AND SCHOOL
WHO LIVES DOWN IVY LANE
HILBERT
by CNB