Artists young and old join together for annual show

Holly Lane first-graders and twin brothers Brexton, left, and Brogan Hartup pose with their artwork for mom, Ellen.

Rae-Ann Suburban hosted the sixth annual “Bridging Across Generations” art show in April, bringing together the artistic works of nearly 75 Westlake students and residents of the skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility.

Entries were judged by local artists Marge Widmar, Mary Broberg and Mary Lou Ferbert, as well as by the art creators themselves. Rae-Ann Suburban residents voted for their favorite of the students’ artwork, and the students cast ballots on residents’ art pieces. The winners were announced during a reception on April 23.

John Griffiths, owner and administrator of Rae-Ann Suburban and an avid art lover, conceived the idea after realizing that the city does not hold an all-grades art show. Along with his wife Mary, John organizes the show every year as a way to build community and join the youngest and oldest generations of Westlakers.

The artwork was arranged on floor-to-ceiling panels in a sun-lit meeting room just off the Rae-Ann lobby. It quickly became a destination for residents of the facility.

“The residents love it,” said Mary Griffiths. “Therapists are able to get them to walk farther than usual because they want to look at all the art.”

Students in every grade from kindergarten to high school throughout the Westlake City School District, and a few from St. Bernadette’s, entered artwork ranging from pencil and chalk drawings to paintings to sculpture.

The winner of the overall Best in Show award was WHS senior Miruna Gorodea’s paper collage, “Ivy League.” Runner-up for the award was Jane Fitz, an eighth-grader at Lee Burneson, with her “Fish Out of Water” sculpture crafted out of metal objects including nails, washers and soda can tabs.

The residents’ favorite piece was WHS freshman Robyn Hageman’s drawing titled “Carter.” Bassett second-grader Kate Peacock was voted the runner-up for her multimedia entry, “Mask.”

After the round of student judging, Rae-Ann Suburban resident Danny Sauer was given the Student Choice Award for his pencil-and-paint drawing, “6 a.m. Electrical Storm.” Robert Reese’s painting, “View from a Window,” came in second.

Read More on Arts & Entertainment
Volume 5, Issue 9, Posted 10:47 AM, 04.30.2013