AP Art students Cameron Player and Rane Kusek stand together as two of the artists featured in this year’ s Youth Month Art Exhibit.
“ The Youth Art Showcase consists of artwork that is celebrated internationally every March. It’ s just a way for K through 12 art education to get their programs out there to hopefully get fundraising or some way to showcase our students’ creativity, their voice through art, and our county,” explained Whitney Pitts, visual arts educator at Colquitt County High School.
“ So, the showcase is held at the Colquitt County Arts Center and it’ s really for all the art educators in the county to kind of showcase their students’ talent, their creativity, and to get out into the community. The show is for everybody in the community— parents, grandparents, and whoever wants to go— but it’ s to recognize the importance of the students’ efforts, and then it’ s open to the public all month long,” she said.
Pitts, who also advises the CCHS Art Club, brings an expressive and unrestricted approach to creating and teaching art, and that same freedom often shows up in her students’ work.
“ It supports all the young artists in Colquitt County. So, all grades K through 12 have the opportunity where every student can submit work.” Pitts went on to explain how the Youth Art Month showcase not only benefits the students of Colquitt County, but also how it helps their voices stand out through their artwork.“ Not only do they see students’ voices through the artwork, but what they can look forward to in their art classes all the way from elementary to middle and junior high and high school. It’ s really fun to watch the younger students while we’ re there because they get really excited about the things that the older kids are doing in their art classes.”
In addition, Pitts stated that there are two standout artists whose work encapsulates the very heart of the Youth Month Art exhibit. These students’ pieces speak not just with emotion, but with creative vision.
“ So, it’ s important for us as art educators to showcase the student works to our community— just to show how important the visual arts are to our students’ social and emotional learning,” Pitts said.“ As an art teacher, just seeing the pride and the confidence in my students at the show opening is really validating.”
The two exceptional artists, Cameron Player and Rane Kusek, described their time participating in an Advanced Placement art class and having their work featured in the Youth Month Art exhibit as“ exciting,” with each student eagerly looking forward to the event.
The Youth Art Showcase supports all the young artists in Colquitt County. So, all grades K through 12 have the opportunity where every student can submit work.”
~ Whitney Pitts, CCHS art teacher
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