Artists of all ages got the chance to display their talents at the West New York Arts Festival last week.
The festival featured paintings, sculpture, crafts, ceramics, graphics, drawings and mixed media artwork from students in the town’s six elementary schools and Memorial High School. It was held at the Joseph Coviello Recreation Center on 57th Street and Broadway.
“Teachers choose what they think is special,” said West New York’s District Supervisor for Fine Arts Martin Bendian, who has been organizing the event for the past 25 years. “Not just the best artwork. We also have artwork from students who work hard and do a nice job.”
“I asked the teacher, ‘Where’s my art project?’ and she said that it was in the art show,” said Stephanie Gonzalez a sixth grade student at Harry L. Bain School, who was surprised to see her decorated bowl in the festival. “I was like, Whoa!”
“My project was the last one done in my class,” said Nicolle Gonzalez, a fourth grade student at Harry L. Bain School. “I finished it on the same day [they picked the art for the fair].”
According to Bendian, the festival added choral and band performances just two years ago. Again, all of the district’s schools sent their bands and choruses to perform.
“I think they work together nicely,” said Bendian about adding music performances to the art fair. “[The art fair] is finally winding up the way it should be.”
The students’ artwork is also judged and awards are given out in each grade level. A Mayor’s Award and Best of Show award is also given out.