Justin West tries his hand at origami during an art show featuring art from Walker County and Chickamauga schools Saturday at the Alternative Education Center.
Staff Photo by Angela Lewis/Chattanooga Times Free PressCHICKAMAUGA, Ga.-A former elementary school was transformed into an art gallery to display about 4,000 works of art by students of Walker County Schools and Chickamauga City Schools.
The exhibit included a wide range of work produced this school year, including portraits in various media, painted and embellished hubcaps and even a mannequin made of tape.
The art show, called ArtRageous Antics, was produced by Walker County's 10 art teachers.
"This is sort of the equivalent of an art teacher Super Bowl," LaFayette High School art teacher Elizabeth Hornik said.
The venue enabled teachers to drive home the message that art education is important.
"We connect with the community," Fairyland School art teacher Beth Bradford said. "The community can look at this whole building and think about all the kids in Walker County and what they're doing."
The Saturday art show was held at the Advancing Education Center in Chickamauga, a Walker County Schools educational training facility.
And despite a lot of rain, the show was crowded with viewers and artists.
LaFayette High senior Emma Abel had four portraits on display.
"Other art teachers and my family who couldn't go to school and see it in the classroom, they can come here," she said.
North LaFayette Elementary students combined creative juices to produce an image of a snake made with beans, pebbles, split peas and sequins.
One contributing artist was proud that the public could see the group's handiwork.
"Because it looks awesome," second-grader Aaron Fults said.
Although this is the sixth year for the art show, it was the first time Kelly Lewis had attended. His stepdaughter is an eighth-grader at Chattanooga Valley Middle School.
"It's fantastic. I love to see the way that they express themselves through art," Mr. Lewis said.
The event, which also featured students playing music, was held in March because it is national Youth Art Month.
"Look at how successful the kids are and look at how hard they've worked," Hornik said. "It is a huge sense of pride."
Timothy Bradfield covers Walker County. Contact him at timothyb2010@gmail.com.