Memories fabric for school quilts
Along with nearly 400 new student artworks for sale at the April 18 Fine Arts & Beyond showcase at the Butler Intermediate High School, there will be a dozen pieces that come loaded with memories.
Twelve quilts designed by students and staff at Center Avenue School during the 2002-2003 school year will be offered for sale.
With the possible end of Center Avenue as an elementary school through district consolidation, its former principal Paula Opalka suggested to the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation that the quilts which had been hanging in the school for the past 12 years be included in the event.
“I came up with the idea to sell them at the FAB,” said Opalka of Butler, who retired as principal in 2008 after 40 years as a teacher and administrator with the Butler School District. “There was no way to know what would happen to them. We just didn't want them to fall by the wayside.”
Opalka said each classroom of the school made squares for a quilt.
The squares were sewn together by Julie Kummer, who at the time had four grandchildren attending Center Avenue.
Opalka said, “Each quilt had a theme, they were centered around books. Julie Kummer, she would make sure every single child had a patch on the quilt.”
“She would arrange the quilt and sew pieces together at the library. She did a lot of work in the library. Everybody was a part of this project all the teachers all the kids,” Opalka said.Liane Chisholm, president of the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation, which stages Fine Arts & Beyond in cooperation with the Butler School District art department, said, “There were 15, but we've already sold three.”The quilts, in a way, have come full circle.Chisholm said, “They were a school project, a result of one of the creative teaching grants.” The foundation awards scholarships and teacher grants.“We've got some huge quilt racks for them to be on display for people to purchase,” said Chisholm.“Paula Opalka will be there, that's the plan. She will probably know some of the people who are going to be there, and she will be able to talk about the quilts with people if they have questions,” said Chisholm.As for potential buyers, Opalka said, “I would think it would be former students or their parents who would like to buy the quilts.”The quilts cost $20 and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.In addition to the quilts, the showcase will feature paintings, sculpture, photography, drawings, ceramics and mixed media art, from ninth through twelfth-grade students, said Erich Campbell, department chairman of the school district art department.The showcase, in its 13th year, raises money for the scholastic foundation, he said.“It's raised $50,00 a year for the past five years,” said Campbell.Last year the money was used by the foundation to grant thirty-five $1,000 student scholarships and $15,000 in creative teacher grants, said Chisholm. The foundation was founded in 1991.“The money all goes back to the students whether it is for a grant that the student benefits from or a scholarship,” said Campbell. “The student artists all donated their work. They know that they can be bought that night.”“It takes up the whole first floor of the school. In the beginning, it was just the hall by the auditorium,” he said.In addition to the art on display, Campbell said the showcase will feature demonstrations from local artists such as Tom Panei and Marcia Furman, children's activities, a 50/50 raffle and gift baskets for sale, as well as choral, string and jazz performances.“It's really family friendly. There will be food there and music demonstrations,” said Campbell, who noted last year's attendance was between 1,500 and 2,000.Chisholm said the foundation hopes to have a matching fall event.“We've had in the past different kinds of things in the fall. We had Joe Negri come one time,” said Chisholm. “We've had turkey bingo in the fall. It's not been a big moneymaker but we decided it's a good P-R event.”
<B>WHAT: </B>Fine Arts & Beyond student art showcase<B>WHEN: </B>5:30 to 9 p.m. April 18<B>WHERE: </B>Butler Intermediate High School, 110 Campus Lane. Enter through main entrance on auditorium side.Proceeds benefit the Golden Tornado Foundation.
