The Hall of Flags was filled with music and a lot of excited school students who were recognized at a celebration of Excellence in Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education. This combined celebration by the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Arts Commission hosted nearly 60 students where Maine’s First Lady Ann LePage congratulated the students, “I am so impressed with your imagination and skills. Even the quotes with your pictures express your skills and we are so pleased to have your art work on display.”
Joining her were State Board of Education Vice-Chair Peter Geiger, Maine Arts Commission Executive Director Julie Richards, and Deputy Education Commissioner Bill Beardsley.
Also in attendance were State Representative MaryAnne Kinny and students from AOS 91, RSU 3, and MSAD 51, along with their families. In addition, student musicians from MSAD 51’s jazz combo and madrigal singers shared patriotic and jazz standards at the celebration.
Among those at the Hall of Flags were Kasey Roberts who is a senior at Mount View High School in Thorndike. She explained the meaning behind her artwork, “My piece, In Full Bloom, sends a message to stand out and make a difference. I am very excited to pursue art, and I have been accepted to Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in New York to study graphic design.”
Noah Pringle, junior at Mount View High School claimed he is thinking his love for art will be useful in his career which he hopes will be in engineering. Alexis Ramee, who is also a junior at Mount View High School says, “I always grew up with art. My grandmother was an adamant Art Teacher and taught me the value of art.”
Eric Phillips, who has been teaching high school art for 25 years, is proud of his RSU 3 students. The Mount View High School educator said, “The draw for teaching Art is the kids; it’s fun to watch them achieve something when something pops into their heads. Plus, they teach me too.”
Adam Lane of North Yarmouth attends Greely Middle School in Cumberland. He drew a Chinese dragon and said, “I took the time to draw all those tiny scales and that took a lot of patience.”