ARTPARK: SUMMER SENSES

ArtPark is back with Summer Sensations! The irrepressible Jane Wood has this to say about the current gathering of student poems and display in Wilson, North Carolina.



"The elementary school where I presented ArtPark this spring was Rock Ridge Elementary; they have five 4th grades. How perfect, I thought, for encouraging the students to write their thoughts on "summer" with each class taking one of the 5 senses. First I discussed the value of writing from a stream of consciousness concept rather than "working" at sentence structure or rhyme. I then assigned one of the senses per class and allowed each 10 minutes to compose. This way I was assured of no parent or peer involvement. The students seemed excited to be freed up,so to speak, to put down thoughts as they came to them. It's a wonderful way to stress originality! And that's what ArtPark is all about - developing the imagination and independent thinking!"

Jane was especially happy with the sensory poetic energy this spring board generated. What a great way to begin the summer!





SUMMER SMELLS

…LIKE ROSES

by Damaris Sontes


… LIKE POOL WATER, CHLORINE
by Madison Hux


…LIKE LEMONADE
by Luis Rodriguez


…LIKE THE SALTY OCEAN
by Caroline Smith


…FRESHLY CUT GRASS
by Maddie Eatman


…SWEAT
by Wayne Hittell


…HOTDOGS ON THE GRILL
by Grayson Dail

SUMMER SIGHTS

…CRANE IN THE POND EATING FISH,
FOX RUNNING FROM MY PAPA’S DOGS,
HONEYBEES DANCING AND BUZZING,
FROGS HOPPING FROM LILYPAD TO LILYPAD
by Austin Wells


…THE BIG SUN IN THE SKY
by Kody Williams


…A RIVER WHERE I GO FISHING
by Auston Applewhite


…FLUTTERING BUTTERFLIES,
DRAGONFLIES OVER THE POOL,
ANTS MAKING NEW HOMES,
AT NIGHT - THE MOON
by Kayla Crisp


…KIDS PLAYING IN THE SAND AT THE BEACH,
WATER SPLASHING OVER MY FACE IN THE POOL
by Katelyn Davis

SUMMER SOUNDS

…WAVES AT THE OCEAN CRASHING ON THE SAND,
KITES MAKING A “WOOSH” IN THE WIND
by Morgan Turner


…BOOM! BOOM! (THUNDER.) IT’S GOING TO RAIN
by Allexis Bullock


…KIDS SCREAMING, “NO MORE SCHOOL!”
by Noah Vick


…BIRDS SINGING
by Naize Strickland


…THE BUZZING OF BEES,
HISSING OF SNAKES,
THE SWEEPING OF A BLANKET
AS IT’S PLACED ON THE GROUND
FOR A PICNIC
by Dustin Holley


…THE LAST DROP OF RAIN
FROM THE LAST SPRING SHOWER
by Dylan Joyner

SUMMER TASTES

…SWEET FRESH CANTALOUPE
by Cooper Dean

…LEMONADE ON A HOT DAY,
SALT WATER WHILE SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN,
SWEAT RUNNING INTO MY MOUTH
by Courtney Hittell

…FRUIT SMOOTHIES COOLING ME OFF
by Morgan Loflin

…STRAWBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, WATERMELON
by Hunter Thorne

...GREEN DELICIOUS CUCUMBERS
by Madison Hinnant

SHRIMP
by Abbott Bass

…ICE CREAM AND POPSICLES
by Ethan Glover

HOT DOGS, CHEESEBURGERS, ICE CREAM
by Brendan Hurley

FRESH GARDEN PEAS
by Sara Beth Howard

SUMMER TOUCHES

…FOOTBALLS, SOCCER BALLS, BASEBALLS,
ROCKS TO SKIP ACROSS THE WATER
by Colton Turner


…A PERSON’S LIFE
WHEN YOU PLAY TOGETHER IN THE SUMMER
by Jessica Stevens


…SAND TICKLING MY TOES,
MOM’S HAND TAKING ME INTO THE WATER
by Reina Navarro


…BABY SQUIRRELS, BUMBLE BEE STINGS
by Senaida Macamio


…MY ARM’S WEAVING THROUGH WATER
LIKE A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY
by Catherine Laporte


...SCALY FISH, SLIMY FROGS,
THE TEXTURE OF SUMMER THINGS
by Jonathan Bullock

ARTPARK: EAT YOUR VEGGIES (Wilson County Public Library)

Jane Wood and her 4th graders have brought us ArtPark's latest theme-- Eat Your Veggies. The school featured is Community Christian School. Jane says, "I asked the students to think of a vegetable, allow a picture to form in their minds, then describe the picture. I tell them that the picture is part of their imagination and when they describe it to think about the 5 senses - not to necessarily employ each, but to realize that words connected to the senses make poetry. I allow them 10 minutes to compose, that way I don't get parental involvement or best friend suggestions; it is their very own work."

The shots were made at the Public Library display as ArtPark's magical display area at the Arts Council is dismantled due to renovation. Here's hoping the Wilson County Arts Council will keep this memorable niche in their building and send the message that the arts begin with our children. If they don't grow up loving the arts, there will someday be none. Attention politicians and arts committees! We can't let our budgetary restrictions keep such programs from our next generations.

Because all of these photographs are so colorful, I'm simply going to post them and let you wander through the display. Have fun! And a special thanks to Cindy Long for her photographs!