Chatham Teachers Help 'Artify' The Classroom

CHATHAM, NJ - Chatham High School Art teachers Kiera Spadaro and Candace Hull presented a workshop for Art teachers across the state at “Artify,” the Art Educators of New Jersey’s annual conference in Long Branch on Oct. 7,

Spadaro and Hull presented on the rationale and the “nuts and bolts” of creating and implementing a district-wide K-12 Art Show as a culminating event at the end of the school year.

Three years ago, the Chatham High School Art teachers decided the best way to promote School District of the Chathams Visual Arts program would be to create a district-wide show. The SDOC Art teachers wrote grants to procure funding for some of the display panels, and the Chatham Education Foundation graciously provided these funds. The next year the district bought materials to enable the CHS Art Department to expand their display possibilities.

The three subsequent shows have been a resounding success, with over 1000 patrons touring the show each night. Students and parents have been able to see the progression of the district art curriculum and the growth of student talent as they walk through chronological gallery spaces. Guests can also participate in hands on events, such as printmaking, value drawing and weaving, while art students provide demonstrations on the pottery wheel, wacom tablets and more.

District Supervisor of Instructional and Design Technology, Library/Media, and Visual Art Danielle Dagounis said, “The District visual arts staff has worked tirelessly to prepare for, promote, and execute an extremely successful annual District Art Show over these past three years, from collaborating with the performing arts department to coordinate musical performances to securing donations from community organizations. We, as a district, are very proud of Ms. Spadaro and Ms. Hull for presenting to their statewide visual art colleagues on the topic of our District Art Show.”

The 2020 district art show is scheduled to be on May 18 and 19, 2020 at Chatham High School.

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