Middle School Art Students Earn District Awards; Olivia Pasquale a State Finalist

March is Youth Art Month (YAM) and each year the Art Educators of New Jersey (AENJ) celebrates the visual arts with a competition for elementary, middle school and high school students. Art educators in every county submit four pieces of art completed by students during the school year; the art is critiqued against that of their peers. This year, four Ranney Middle School artists earned District Awards and one student, Olivia Pasquale ’19 (Little Silver), is a state finalist (read more about Olivia). Olivia, along with eighth-graders Mia Glass (Rumson) and Taylor Rice (Fair Haven) and seventh-grader Tara Crilly (Shrewsbury), all produced 2D artwork during the first marking period as part of their 2D art class at Ranney and have earned District Awards.

New to the Middle School this year, seventh- and eighth-graders were able to choose electives in the Visual Arts Department. This choice has allowed students the opportunity to focus on 2D, 3D or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) classes for an entire semester. These young ladies explored a variety of 2D mediums during the semester and for their final project, they developed an in-depth focus with a medium and subject matter of their choice. “Their commitment to the arts is evident in the work produced,” says Middle School Art Teacher Madeleine McCarthy. “The students worked during class and after school, when necessary, to complete works that really matter to them.”

Beginning March 1, the YAM district exhibit will be on display at the Middletown Arts Center, with a closing reception and awards ceremony taking place Sunday, March 15 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. The state competition will be held at the State House in Trenton with finalists’ work displayed in the State House from Feb. 28 through March 6 and final judging to take place March 6.

“These young ladies have worked diligently on projects that they love; please show your support for their commitment to the arts by attending the shows,” urges Mrs. McCarthy.