Community Corner

CHS to Mingle Art History, Music, Dance and More at Unified Arts Night

Thursday's event will feature many works of art and performances in a unique, walk-through environment.

 

Months of hard work and preparation by dozens of Coventry High School students and faculty members, along with several artists and performers from outside of the school community will culminate at 6 p.m. on Thursday at the school's 2013 Unified Arts Night.

This year's event will put a unique spin on the traditional art gallery or music recital model by combining student work from various CHS departments with the creations and influences of local artists. Visual Arts, Technical Education, Music and Dance will all be represented through the featured artwork and performances displayed on Thursday night.

Find out what's happening in Coventrywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Guests will begin the evening in the school's outdoor courtyard where they will be welcomed by CHS band director and Unified Arts Curriculum Coordinator Bill Smith and Principal Mike Hobin. While in the courtyard, visitors will behold the transformation that has occurred within the space frequently overlooked by even those who walk the school's halls each day. In recent months, students from welding and woodworking classes with instructor Gene Dufault spent time constructing a stage, rearranging the space's gazebo and walkway, and outfitting the area with live floral arrangements to create a tranquil and aesthetically pleasing location that the school will be able to utilize for years to come. 

Outdoor presentations will consist of meditation compliments of Raffa Yoga, "Inner Reflection" dance, "Three Graces" ballet performance choreographed by the State Ballet of Rhode Island's Herci Marsden, and the unveiling of a towering, weather-proof mural, created by artist Ron DaBelle, which features a mix of historical artistic influences such as Norman Rockwell, van Gogh, Picasso, Goya, Velázquez, Raphael and Cézanne, as well as local culture depicted in images of Coventry's Paine House Museum, Washington Village Falls and the Pawtuxet River. 

Find out what's happening in Coventrywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Marinosci was commissioned for the mural through a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA)'s Arts Talk program, which helps high school educators utilize arts integration in their lessons and apply for grants to fund projects like this one. Art teacher Jacqueline Celeste worked with Marinosci to formulate the mural's theme and influences and praises highly the Arts Talk program for allowing herself and her students to work with and learn from professional artists.

"Arts Talk is a great program because it lets us bring in a professional to work with the kids," she said. 

Smith explained that over the past decade, the program has brought more than $100,000 in arts funding to the school.

Fellow Unified Arts teachers Linda Caparrelli and Kathy Hudson also wrote and utilized RISCA grants enabling them to welcome professionals like Raku pottery artist Kate Champa into their classrooms to work with students. 

Following the courtyard ceremony, attendees will move on to the school auditorium where they will enjoy performances by the CHS Show Choir, Jazz Ensemble and Dance Team. Unified Arts Night will conclude in the library where guests will enjoy refreshments while observing a gallery-style array of artwork including paintings, drawings, photography, digital media, live sculpture and ceramics. Collections of music technology, welding, robotics and architectural design projects will also be on display.

"We're excited about this event because it is a culmination of student work," said Smith. "The Arts Talk component allows students to experience arts education in a way that they normally wouldn't be able to."

Editor's Note: In the instance of inclement weather, the majority of the event will take place in the CHS auditorium.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here