Art fair shows off City Sights

By: Philip Batson, Staff Writer

Philip Batson/Sun Photo Indian Valley Elementary third-grader River Phelps, left, shows Jessica Phelps his glazed clay skyscraper at the school’s annual Art and Writing Fair on May 8.

Art spilled onto tables in common areas and hung from the ceiling for the annual Art and Writing Fair at Indian Valley Elementary School, 11600 Knox, Overland Park.

Art teacher Cathy Franker is in charge of the event, which started when she came to the school in 1991. Franker annually develops a new theme for the show and incorporates it into various art class projects throughout the year.

Franker also makes sure the theme and projects intertwine with the mandatory art curriculum. This year’s theme is City Sights, and each piece of artwork had to incorporate something to do with big cities.

“It’s important for children to have their efforts exhibited and shown,” Franker said.

As the fair went on, Franker said she is already thinking of next year’s theme and is leaning toward a time-traveling feel.

With the help of parent volunteers, Franker is able to get everything on display in about a week.

The fair incorporated art of every style. From a puffy car traffic jam to life-size third-grade self-portraits, to oil pastels of earth movers to glazed skyscraper and junkyard dog sculptures made out of recycled materials, no part of a city remained untouched.

“I like my students’ work,” Franker said.

Parents and pupils seemed to enjoy the work as they walked through the school admiring the art while music pumped through the speakers.

“It’s very neat,” Jessica Phelps said as she looked at the work of third-grader River Phelps. “There are some great ideas here.”

The art fair finale is the final project done by fifth-graders. They are charged with choosing any artist they want, writing a paper on them and developing a piece of artwork in the style and mold of the artist they chose.

“I’m proud of every one of these kids,” Franker said.

Contact Philip Batson at 385-6065 or philipbatson@ sunpublications.com.