5-25-2023 4:51am

Boyertown High School Celebrates Visual Art at 30th Arts Expo, Awards Scholarship

Lesley Misko Editor

by Jane Stahl

Boyertown High School art students and teachers held the 30th annual Arts Expo recently. The walls surrounding the art classrooms held artwork in various styles created by students in multiple art classes during the 2022-2023 school year.

Former ceramics teacher and local potter Linda Rohrbach Austerberry and I visited the Expo several hours before “showtime” to designate among the seniors who would receive the art department’s annual scholarship.

Walking the halls, I was drawn to the colorful display of fruits and vegetables. Linda found her favorite in the mix as well.

A ceramist herself, Linda was impressed with the pottery of junior Chad Endy.

Ceramics instructor Domenic Frunzi and Linda admire the work of junior Chad Endy.

Senior Spotlights allowed several dozen senior students to showcase their work in mini-solo exhibits.

Jahzara Jenkins and art instructor Thomas Dareneau offered broad smiles.

Connor Heil recalled visiting Studio B during the Yenna Hill exhibit, meeting Yenna, and sharing his work with her.

A Spotlight and Wall of Fame featured special students.

Linda chose Natalie Bozzini as the scholarship recipient, commenting that her display made a statement. Linda explains, “Artists can produce skillful work in magnificent and creative ways or they can ‘say something.’” Natalie’s display evoked nostalgia as images in multiple mediums showcased her development from childhood and her evolution as an artist.

A feature of the Arts Expo included a raffle designed to generate funds for the art scholarship. This year’s raffle included a framed print by the artist Michele Byrne. Michele is known for her journeys throughout the United States creating en plein air, pallet knife paintings. michele@michelebyrne.com . The print was donated by Studio B Fine Art Gallery, through the generosity of the family of Ingeborg and Richard Frecon, and represents a love of reading that former teacher Ingeborg experienced as a teacher and mother.

In addition, the Home Studio Raffle included a hand-thrown mug by Chad Endy, a 10 stretched canvas pack, brushes and pencils, charcoal paper, color pastels and more--valued over $300.

In visiting the Art Expo after it “opened,” I was happy to see the area crowded with students and families enjoying the art, music, and light refreshments. I picked up recent copies of the high school’s literary magazine, Accent. As a retired English teacher, I will enjoy reading the literary expressions of today's students.

The first Art Expo was held in 1992 when Matthew Freeman, along with Angela Colasanti, Marshall Warfield, and Steve Burns, coordinated the effort as part of a project Matt was inspired and assigned to actualize after his attendance at a six-week PA Governor’s School session the previous summer.