As the 2021-22 school year comes to a close, Marlboro art students held an art show at Frida’s Bakery & Cafe in downtown Milton. This is the first art show since the pandemic shut down in-person events.

High School Principal Ryan Lawler said the district has a ‘thriving’ art program. He pointed out that through the Vision 20/202 construction project, spaces have been redesigned, “that are accommodating all of our needs in 2D and 3D and you can see the result of that today,” he said. “There is art work from kindergarten right through the 12th grade. I am amazed at the variety of work, anything from black & white to full color to abstract work, that’s all supported based on what the students are interested in within the projects and how the teachers have assigned them.”

Art Department Chair Amy Tremblay said the district’s art curriculum runs the gamut, from finger painting, ceramics, photography, drawing and painting; covering the basics of how to do the elements of art, lines and colors and how to form it into 3 dimensional pieces.
Tremblay said she is continually amazed at the high level of art work that the students submit, saying, “I have the best job. I always say that because you give them an assignment and then look at what they come up with.” She gives the students a broad outline of a technique she wants the students to learn, like values and textures, and they conceptualize and create wonderful pieces.

Marc Eckert, who teaches 8th grade modern art and 7th and 8th grade graphic design, said the show showcases all that the art department teaches throughout the year.

“It’s great to see what the kids from elementary school do to middle school to high school and what they’re progressing and pursuing in the arts,” he said.

Eckert said he builds upon the students basic design skills, “that hopefully inspires them to continue their art in high school and in college.”

Eckert said having the students back in-person, “is actually been great and seeing what they can do hands-on.”

Middle School art teacher Megan Albright said she tries to get as many student art works up for display in the limited space available. She said each of her assignments focuses on different techniques or a particular medium and even on an artist.

Christine Williams, who teaches art in the elementary school, said her students were very excited to see their art works in the show. She has about 850 students but only space for 50 pieces in the show.

“They are so enthusiastic because everything you teach them is brand new and they are so excited,” she said. “Every time you give them new material they say, yes we get to use paint, yes we get to use colored pencils. That’s really fun.”

Rachel Elder teaches high school art classes. Her Advanced Placement classes help students create a college portfolios and receive credits for their work.
In high school Elder said they have to take one credit in art, “but we try to encourage them to keep going just to get more electives and keep them out of study halls because we feel we’re engaging their brains in different ways. This is my fourth year teaching and it’s good to have a nice art show again; to see all of it together, it’s great.”