Creativity In Bloom Provides a Dazzling Display At Annual Deane-Porter School Art Show

Upon leaving the flower-lined path on a recent Thursday evening and entering Deane-Porter School, visitors were once again greeted with an enchanting floral display -- these brilliant blooms, however, were made of brightly colored paper and crafted by the school's first-grade students.

"This project was inspired by the work of Georgia O'Keefe and designed for much older children," Rumson Superintendent Maryrose Caulfield-Sloan noted proudly as she admired the floral artwork adorning the entrance to the school's lobby.

Welcome to the annual Deane-Porter School Art Show, where creativity in bloom is always on full display.

"The Art Show is a showcase of all that the students have learned during the year," said Deane-Porter Art Teacher Robin Yaeger, who organizes the event and serves as curator.

Over 1,000 pieces of artwork were included in the show, which was sponsored by the Deane-Porter School Parent-Teacher Association (PTO) and held on the evening of May 1. Students in grades Kindergarten through third each had approximately three pieces of original work featured in the show.

The artwork -- including paintings, sculpture, pottery, drawings, prints, and collages -- was labeled and placed on display by volunteer members of the Art Committee. Colorful original works festooned the school's hallways and also hung from the ceiling. 

Proud parents, Deane-Porter teachers and administrators, and other visitors marveled at the beauty and originality of the featured work which was based on themes chosen by Yaeger according to grade level.

The Kindergarten projects included self-portraits in which students envisioned themselves as a King or Queen, a Monet-inspired painting of a lily pond and footbridge, and paintings based on seasonal subjects such as stacked pumpkins, penguins, and trees in winter.

In addition to the O'Keefe inspired flowers in the school's lobby entrance, the first graders created self-portraits with a Van Gogh-inspired "Starry Night" sky and also made dragons with the theme of Chinese New Year.

Second graders created masks inspired by the tribal art of Africa as well as Picasso-style self-portraits, mummy cases, coil-style pottery. They also created paintings inspired by "Tar Beach", the popular children's book written and illustrated by Faith Ringgold.

The third graders created colorful and bejeweled "Day of the Dead" skulls, slab pottery, and wood assemblages inspired by the creations of noted 20th century American sculptor Louise Nevelson.

A poster advertising and celebrating the event featured artwork by Deane-Porter third grader Katie Tucker, second grader Conor Gagnon, first grader Aubrey Scoble, and Kindergarten student Richard O'Day.

The Art Show Committee Chairs --  Pia Binns, Betsey Werner, and Adrienne Shenman -- provided the organization and communication necessary for the success of the Art Show. They were assisted by volunteers Debbie Abazia, Steve Barrett, Faith Brownlee, Richelle Frangione, Laura Gangemi, Heather Hansen, Lanae Herman, Taryn Iwan, Dina Margulies, Amy Martin, Liza Tamashunes, Gail Tobias, and Sarah Tobias.