Schools already getting art ready for showcase
Some of the art being created now by students at Butler Senior High School may end up selling for hundreds of dollars in April.
The Fine Arts and Beyond (FAB) Showcase is a tradition at Butler Area School District that usually lives up to its acronym thanks to the musical and artistic talents of the district’s students.
The fundraiser for the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation doesn’t take place until April 1, but Erich Campbell, art chairman for the Butler school district, said the students are already getting ready to put their best piece forward.
“This is the 20th year, so a lot of kids know about it and maybe had pieces in it before,” said Campbell, who is also an art teacher at Butler Senior High. “They seem very excited for it.”
John Reddick, vice president of the scholastic foundation, said the visual and music arts show is the foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser.
Additionally, the FAB Showcase is a way for students to get involved in raising money for the foundation, which in turn helps fund programs and scholarships for students in the district.
“The FAB showcase started as a way to showcase the art and musical talent of Butler school district,” Reddick said. “The primary purpose of it is the artwork. All the art students throughout the district, from young to seniors, they do their thing throughout the year, and the art teachers select the best pieces.”
On April 1, the Butler Intermediate High School’s first floor will be filled with paintings, sculptures, sketches and ceramic pieces created by students. Pieces created by high school students are auctioned off to raise money for the scholastic foundation.
Reddick said the event has attracted up to around 2,000 people in the past, and it can raise several thousand dollars thanks to the collaboration between schools.
“Most of the art teachers are involved, and the music teachers are involved. It really brings the whole district together,” Reddick said. “We also have visiting artists, visual artists in the Butler community.
“There's a lot of good things happening on the first floor of the intermediate high school.”
The event will also feature musical performances by students, a 50/50 raffle and basket raffles, which Reddick said also help raise money for the foundation.
Through the showcase, Campbell said he hopes to show students how their art can make a difference in the community, whether it be through raising money for a nonprofit organization or just making a person feel happy.
“As an artist, giving back to the community is always a positive thing to do,” Campbell said. “Giving back is one of the biggest things you can do with your talent.”
