NEWBURY — Dozens of students proudly showed off their creative spirits with art pieces embracing a theme of accepting imperfections during last Thursday’s Newbury Elementary Reflections Art show.
“We had a wonderful evening event,” chairperson and local artist Elizabeth Andrews said.
The Reflections Art program was founded in 1969 and serves as the National PTA’s cornerstone arts program.
During Thursday night’s ceremony, students had their artwork on display throughout the halls before folks gathered in the auditorium for awards and a slideshow of winning selections.
Andrews explained the program is broken into several artistic categories including visual arts, music composition, videography, photography, dance and choreography, and literature.
“Students had the opportunity to submit art under an annual prompt, and this prompt this year was accepting imperfection. And so they have to create their art so that it speaks to the prompt,” Andrews said.
Newbury Elementary art teacher Brittany Williams said she loved the imperfections theme.
“Students are often hard on themselves or feel that their art needs to be perfect, so this is a great theme for this year,” Williams said.
Andrews said they saw a strong turnout from the school.
“Sixty students participated from the elementary school in every grade level from Pre-K all the way up to sixth grade,” Andrews said.
Andrews said awards were broken down by division, with the best submissions in each of the six art categories being recognized.
“We had six parent volunteer judges that stood on stage and talked about each of the winners or recipients of the awards,” Andrews said.
One student’s art work that stood out to Andrews was a doll without arms and legs, with an artist description that explained the doll still loved itself in spite of what it was missing. She said she was fascinated with the literal interpretation.
“She doesn’t have any arms and legs, but she loved herself. It’s kind of childish, but in a way it’s was so much deeper,” Andrews said.
Another submission that touched her deeply was a performance that included a piano and oboe.
“So she wrote the music, and she then choreographed the dance, and she put these three pieces together to create a piece. It was beautiful,” Andrews said.
She shared why she feels it is important for the PTA to continue this tradition.
“When you give children the freedom to express themselves, you give them a key to confidence,” Andrews said.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.