13th Annual Arts Festival scheduled for March 12

Art will be the center of attention at Springfield High School when the 13th annual Arts Academy Festival takes place from 5 to 7 p.m.
http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/13th-annual-arts-festival-scheduled-march-12

13th Annual Arts Festival Scheduled for March 12 Submitted by VT Journal on Tue, 03/10/2015 - 2:42pm By LAUREN DRASLER The Shopper SPRINGFIELD, VT -For many people, art is an important part of their daily lives. Whether it’s a beautiful painting, or a favorite song, art is everywhere. Which is why, on March 12, art will be the center of attention at Springfield High School when the 13th annual Arts Academy Festival takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. The festival will feature art displays, class exhibits, musical performances, theater performances and refreshments. This year’s theme is “Reflections” and was chosen by Springfield High School Art Teacher Lisa Murray. According to Murray, she chose this year’s theme of Reflections because this will be her last Arts Festival before she retires in May. “I chose Reflections because it’s my last year here, and it seemed appropriate,” she said. “I also chose it because I have a lot of seniors that have taken art classes with me since they were freshmen, and I thought it might be cool for them to reflect on their high school experience. I also love the idea of mirrors, and my students are now working on kaleidoscope paintings that will be part of the festival.” “I started the Arts Festival 13 years ago with the then music teacher Tom Heintzelman,” Murray said. “We took 100 students to New York City for an Arts Academy trip, and the first theme of the festival was New York. The Arts Festival is a great way to highlight student work and to get the whole school involved.” According to Murray, the Arts Festival is held in March because of the gap in sports seasons and the fact that March is Youth Art Month. Murray said that her favorite part of the Arts Festival is seeing her students show off their work to family and friends. Fifteen different teachers at the high school are involved with the Arts Festival, and the event will showcase student work ranging from Mexican Candlesticks to Self-Reflection Jars. Musical performances from the Madrigal singers, Wind Ensemble, Solos and Duets will also be featured, and the theater class will perform Superheroes by Ian McWethy during the festival. The junior class will be hosting a Dollar Café with proceeds going toward prom, the German Club will provide desserts and the Anime Club is supplying the beverages for the event. Theater and English Teacher Rebecca Skrypeck said that this is the first year in many years that her Theater students are part of the Arts Festival, but that she looks forward to the experience. “My students are doing an open dress rehearsal of Superheroes by Ian McWethy during the Arts Festival,” she said. Skrypeck also said that her Theater students will be participating in the Vermont Drama Council Drama Festival which will be held at Green Mountain Union High School March 14. If her students are in the top three performances, Skrypeck said they will go on to the state festival, which will be held at Castleton State College later in March. Sophomore Isabelle Vogell is in Murray’s advanced art class, but is also a student in Spanish III. Vogell’s Spanish class made Mexican Candlesticks for the Arts Festival. “The potter Susan Leader came and helped us make the candlesticks,” Vogell said. “We made them as a class, and are now painting them [candlesticks] so that they are Spanish inspired.” The 13th Annual Arts Academy Festival is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, with a snow date of Friday, March 13. It will be held at Springfield High School and all are welcome to attend. - See more at: http://www.vermontjournal.com/content/13th-annual-arts-festival-scheduled-march-12#sthash.pVUduIdR.dpuf.