Igniting inspiration and creativity across multiple artistic media, Killeen ISD’s annual art show is about to unfold.
Using the theme “Ignite,” this year’s 22nd Annual KISD Art Show & Creative Canvas Festival that opens Monday, Feb. 23 will spill over into a festival where participants can create their own visual art and experience a variety of performance art.
“This year we are planning to welcome community and school performances at the Creative Canvas Festival as well as art making demonstrations, community artists and more,” said KISD Fine Arts Director Morganne Davies.
The fun opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center, beginning a student art show that continues through March 4 and is free and open to the public.
Artwork of every imaginable color, texture and flavor will fill the conference center ballrooms.
Every KISD middle school and high school and a few elementary schools will be represented.
Nolan Middle School visual art teacher Alison Rodriguez has taught at several levels and been teaching middle school art five years. She said the show is a highlight for students and often an eye-opener for their parents.
"It gives the kids a chance to showcase their talent. We have some really talented kids in KISD and here at Nolan. The sense of pride they have when they get to be in a real professional setting really drives them," she said.
"They ask consistently when is the show, are you taking this," the art teacher explained. She recalled a parent who was amazed last year to see the level of talent their child displayed.
"They are doing well and they should be proud of what they're doing," she said.
Creative Canvas Festival
In addition to the massive student art exhibit, KISD fine arts is hosting the Creative Canvas Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28.
That will include opportunities for family members to make their own artwork and see performances from KISD student groups and from community organizations.
“The theme of Ignite is about getting excited and the energy we get from our talented student artists,” Davies said.
“We have such a wide variety of artwork and talented students from the elementary level through high school. This is a great chance to see art, to make art and to see some fabulous performances,” she said.
This year’s festival will continue to encourage participants to express their own creativity.
New this year is the performance aspect, with a variety of school and community dance groups, orchestra, step teams and Hispanic heritage groups scheduled.
The huge annual art exhibit and community festival lead into another artistic celebration called Big Art Day, scheduled statewide March 6.
Students throughout the district have been challenged to create hearts in an effort to illustrate connectivity.
Photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720332078380/
