WBMS teacher’s last show Monday
VINTON – Since 1978, her first year at William Byrd Middle School, Connie Richards has hosted an Annual Art Show to showcase the works of her sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. “The kids get so excited about it” she said. This year however will be her last year as Richards is retiring at the end of the school year. It will be up to the new art teacher whether or not to continue the 33 year tradition. “I’ve been very blessed to have everything I need” Richards said of her time at the school.
The show, which takes her a week to put up and get ready, will be held on Monday the 23rd from 6:30 – 8pm in the Art Room, room 111, at William Byrd Middle School and is open to the public. Susan Watson, retired Art Supervisor for Roanoke County Schools, is this year’s judge. First, second, and third place awarded in each project category and grade. There is also the chance for some pieces of art to take home honorable mention awards, though the number of those is up to the discretion of whoever is judging that particular year. After all the winners are decreed the Art Show will remain up for two or three more days so that everyone can get a chance to see it. “Teachers will often bring by their classes to see it since not everyone come to the show.”
Art teacher Connie Richards poses with some of her students' art work that will me in the middle school art show on Monday evening. - Photo by Carrie E. Cox
The first year that Richards held the show they were still in the old school and her room was part of an annex. There was no room to put things up, so she literally covered the library in white paper and attached the art to that. “They didn’t want me to leave it up very long,” she said with a laugh, “they needed to be able to access the books.” Since then the event has grown. Now her entire art room is covered for the show, including the windows and tables. Because she has to start putting things up so far ahead of time many pieces are covered by newspaper until the time for the show in order to protect them.
This year, as part of their art projects, students learned various crafts such as glass etching, puzzle making, as well as Indigenous crafts such as molas and coiling. There are also clay projects such as food, which was the eighth grader’s projects, and cylinders with faces which the seventh graders are in the process of finishing and getting ready for the show.
As much as she would like to include a piece of art from each of her students, there are simply too many to make it feasible to do so. However, that seems to add to the excitement for the children who eagerly wait to see if their projects are “chosen” for the Art Show.
- Story by Carrie E. Cox
