Arts front and center at FAB Showcase
The Fine Arts and Beyond (FAB) Showcase has had the involvement of more than 1,100 students of Butler Area School District, and after 20 years of the event, some alumni of the school are now taking part in its festivities.
Eric Campbell, art chairman for the school district, said the FAB Showcase on Saturday, April 6, will be the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation’s 21st, and the event will feature artist demonstrations alongside pieces of work by current students.
The FAB Showcase is a community-wide showcase of artistic work and musical talent of district’s students and professional community artists. The 21st showcase will take place from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Butler Intermediate High School.
The collaboration of current students alongside alumni is part of what makes the FAB Showcase special, Campbell said.
“The students who have come back who are demonstrating are ones they either do it as a hobby or they are doing it as their job,” Campbell said. “A lot of students who are doing it here had their art in the show when they were here; they just love it.”
John Reddick, a member of the scholastic foundation, said the program has gotten back to pre-COVID numbers in terms of attendance and artwork from students, and foundation officials plan to bring back some old traditions this year.
There will be hundreds of pieces student art work on display and for sale at the showcase, which Campbell said is the main way the event raises money for the scholastic foundation. He said the money raised through the FAB Showcase goes toward creative teaching grants that further support arts education at Butler schools.
Many people who attend the showcase are generous when it comes to buying or bidding on student art, according to Campbell.
“Last year, we raised over $44,000. The year before it was $41,000,” Campbell said. “I would be really surprised if we didn't do the same (this year) or even better.”
The evening also will feature live music performances, live artist demonstrations and a 50/50 raffle. Some of the artist demonstrations include a ceramicist, who will be making pottery on-site, and a painter who will be painting through the evening, Campbell said. Reddick also said the foundation is bringing Artie the Dragon back to the showcase, a craft made to look like a Chinese dragon that moves through the crowd throughout the evening.
Campbell said the FAB Showcase has remained a successful event because of the enthusiasm of not only the children who submit art, but also of the community that supports the school district’s creative programs.
“Things don't go this long unless they somehow either work or people want to be part of it,” Campbell said. “I'm pretty proud of it and proud it's still going.”
The FAB Showcase is free to attend. For more information, visit the scholastic foundation’s website at goldentornadoscholasticfoundation.org.
