Over the past few years, major changes have been made to Park Center's Art Department. What was once a one teacher operation has expanded to 3 teachers: Ms. Lori LeClair, Mr. Peter Koltun, and Mr. Jake Manders. In addition to their teaching jobs, these teachers sometimes do their own artwork including painting, pottery and photography. This reinforced faculty has been able to expand the program, and make it better in many ways. For example, a new art class is being lined up for next year, art class enrollment has been steadily rising and this year has marked the start of the new art club.
The Park Center Art Club is a new group that is available to both experienced and inexperienced artists. This club, which meets every other week, was created to provide students with an environment where they can work on their art skills outside of the usual class hours. In the art club students work on oil paintings, cartooning, claymation, designing/painting ceiling tiles, and creating signs for teachers to put outside of their classrooms. In addition to working on these art forms, students help with fundraisers for the club, and can go on fieldtrips.
As evidence of the strengthening of the art program, we can look at Park Center student Stephanie Kunze. Stephanie won the 2006 TIES Computer Art Contest. This contest is a statewide competition for students that have produced artwork created with technology.
Stephanie Kunze's Winning Contest Entry
"Cluttered to her lungs, Visible to your naked eyes. The monarch butterflies Shiver in the frigid air Of her blackened insides."
Along with the increasing quality of the art department, class enrollment has increased as well. This is due partially to the new arts requirements that this year's sophomores and juniors must meet. Currently 5 sections of art are offered per trimester by the three teachers.
Offered Classes:
Exploring Art
Computer Art
Drawing
Painting
Sculpture
Ceramics
Jewelry
Bookmaking
(Available in 2007. Students will learn various bookbinding techniques in order to create artist books.)
When spring rolls around, there will be a District Art Fair, where art pieces from students of the district are displayed. If the rise of PC's art program continues, we could make a very strong showing at the art fair. More information relating to the District Art Fair will become available later in the year.
If you would like more information regarding the art department or the art club, Ms. LeClair, Mr. Manders, and Mr. Koltun can be reached at the following email addresses:
