Art show displays student emotions

Wickliffe Middle School held an art exhibit entitled “The Exchange” at the Wickliffe Public Library. PAGE A4

Wickliffe Middle School held an art exhibit entitled “The Exchange” on Feb. 14 at the Wickliffe Public Library.

The exhibit centered around “mindfulness and emotional intelligence,” according to a statement from the school.

Focusing on students from sixth to eighth grades, the exhibit sought to highlight emotional awareness and its impact on the lives and relationships of the coming-of-age student body.

“It’s all about emotional awareness, trying to get kids a little more in touch with what they believe in and what they stand for and how they’ll be able to communicate that to others,” Art director Toni Starinsky said.

The art featured paintings, poetry, and masks that represent various emotions, as well as Anger Monsters. The Monsters were a series of clay sculptures of colorful monster which were crafted to serve as a personification of the child artists’ emotions and feelings.

The children also worked on presentations that were influenced by Frida Kahlo, the emotive lighting techniques of Rembrandt and the power inherent in messages like the recent Colin Kaepernick Nike ads.

The art exhibit furthered its message of communicating emotions in a healthy manner by inviting members from Crossroads, a behavioral health service aimed toward adolescents.

Crossroads hosted onsite art therapy activities which were free for families to participate in while they viewed the student artwork on display.

“We want to let parents know what we do, how we help kids by regulating feelings in the classroom and make better choices,” said Nathan Edminster of Crossroads.

During the art show, Edminster casually painted stones in between discussions regarding Crossroads.

The deceptively simple arts and craft exercise is utilized at its facilities when children need a buffer to divert focus while they open up emotionally to counselors.

“Simple stuff like that is what we give kids in class just to regulate their emotions,” Edminster said. “When working with us, they might not feel comfortable talking so this is a way to redirect that nervous energy.”

There were also door prizes, a raffle for those in attendance, family portraits, and games designed to entertain the younger children.

ADAM DODD — THE NEWS HERALD Student artwork at the Exchange art show held at Wickliffe Public Library, Feb. 14, presented a focus on the healthy expression of emotion.

ADAM DODD — THE NEWS HERALD One of the art projects on display were the wildly expressive Anger Monsters which are a personification of the student’s emotions.

ADAM DODD —THE NEWS HERALD Art projects on display.