Maddie Mayhorn, a senior who works with clay to make ceramics, and Troy McFarland, a sophomore who specializes in mixed media, will have artwork on display during London City Schools Fine Arts Festival on April 2. Both students were chosen as among the top 300 in this year’s Ohio Governor’s Art Show.
(Posted March 25, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
“We’re going to hit them from all angles, and make it a fun outing for the whole family,” said Stacey Hallowes, art teacher and coordinator of London City Schools’ annual Fine Arts Festival.
This year’s event, set for 1 to 5 p.m. April 2, features art displays and music performances by students in kindergarten through 12th grade, facepainting, concessions, a petting zoo, an instrument drop-off and a mattress sale. Admission is free.
The school district revived the Fine Arts Festival last year after a several year hiatus.
“It was overwhelmingly welcomed back. When students want it, you know it’s a good thing,” Hallowes said.
Artwork by high schoolers will be displayed at the high school and in the adjoining hallway at the elementary. Senior Art IV students will have a special display of their favorite creations from the past four years. Artwork by middle schoolers will be shown in the elementary auditeria. Elementary artwork, inspired by the books of visiting author Steven Kellogg, will be displayed in the elementary school hallways by grade level.
Bands will perform in the high school auditorium. Choirs will perform in the high school gym. The schedule is as follows:
- 1 p.m.—Elementary choir
- 1:30 p.m.—Beginning choir
- 2 p.m.—Combined choir, grades 6-8
- 2:30 p.m.—Middle school concert band
- 3 p.m.—Concert choir
- 3:30 p.m.—Chamber ensemble
- 4 p.m.—Show choir
- 4:30 p.m.—High school wind ensemble
The high school’s FFA chapter will host a petting zoo and agriculture-related activity stations in the ag classroom and shop throughout the festival. High school art students will offer free facepainting. Concessions will be available for purchase in the high school commons.
The school district’s instrumental music department is in need of instruments. Anyone in the community who has an instrument at home they no longer need is encouraged to donate it to the school. An intake table will be set up during the festival. All instruments, even those that need repairs, will be accepted.
“There are students every year who cannot afford to purchase their own instruments but they would like to participate in band,” said Angela Fugate, band instructor. “We do not have many instruments to loan them as our stock is very low. We also need to have instru-ments on hand to give students when their instrument goes to the repair shop.”
The London Music Boosters is holding its 4th Annual Mattress Sale fundraiser in conjunction with the festival. Simmons Beautyrest and Restonic mattresses will be on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. All sizes are avail-able at discounts of up to 50 percent off retail prices. Delivery and pick-up services are offered.
