Eighth-grader Ava Green colors a craft during the Fine Arts and Beyond (FAB) Showcase at Butler Intermediate High School last year. Butler Eagle File Photo

Joseph Ressler

After matte-painting hundreds of art pieces from his students and setting them up, Erich Campbell likes to take a final walk through the cafeteria at Butler Intermediate High School to admire the works made by hundreds of students.

Campbell said he may take a longer reflection on the eve of the Fine Arts and Beyond (FAB) Showcase this year, because it is the 20th time the school district has organized the student showcase.

“Twenty years of anything is a long time. I think that speaks volumes to the art department, music, administration support as well as the foundation board of directors,” said Campbell, art chairman for Butler Area School District. “All of that and the community — you can't do it without all that.”

The FAB Showcase is an annual art show for students in all grades in the district and the largest annual fundraiser for the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation. It features art pieces created in many media, live music performances by bands and orchestras as well as refreshments and raffles.

Carrie Morgan-Davis, foundation president and principal of McQuistion Elementary School, said the event always gets students excited because their art is on display for many people to see.

“The kids are excited, and they like to come with their families and are so proud to see their artwork on display,” Morgan-Davis said. “It gets people excited about the things kids are capable of doing. It's such a positive night and a happy night to show off the things they can do.”

The FAB Showcase, which begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at Butler Intermediate High School, is free to attend, but it raises money for the foundation through sponsorships and by auctioning art donated by students. Campbell said students can choose whether they want to have their pieces auctioned, because some prefer to keep their creations.

John Reddick, vice president of the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation, said the event’s organizers are expecting a large turnout this year. He said the arts showcase took place virtually in 2020 and 2021, and attendance didn’t quite rebound to pre-COVID levels at the 2022 show.

“Typically in the past we had about 2,000 people, then COVID hit, and we had two years of virtual,” Reddick said. “Since it is the 20th anniversary, we're hoping to have a big crowd.”

Campbell said in addition to school families, art enthusiasts also attend from all over, some drawn to the gallery and others to the live music and still others come for the live art demonstrations performed by community artists.

The visiting artists will do live paintings, face paintings and even pottery during the showcase. Campbell said the visiting artists often are plucked from the community, and some even are alumni of the school district. Additionally, Campbell recruits people to judge high school art at the showcase, some of whom are also Butler alumni.

“The judges are from the community; one is a board member for the foundation,” Campbell said.

Morgan-Davis said the energy can be felt throughout the first floor of the intermediate high school, because attendees are enjoyers of the arts.

“I think FAB is amazing because it brings together all of the buildings and all departments,” she said.

The money raised through the FAB Showcase helps fund the Golden Tornado foundation programs, such as its backpack program and scholarships for students.

Additionally, Morgan-Davis said the FAB money in particular funds artistic programs at Butler schools, because the foundation aims to help provide money for creative education programs.

“(Donations) help teachers have different ways of incorporating creativity,” Morgan-Davis said. “We're helping to fund yoga programs at the schools.”

Campbell estimated the largest amount ever earned through the FAB Showcase at around $50,000, which was raised through the art auction and sponsorships. He said people often are surprised at how much the art is auctioned for, but then again, many also are surprised by the intricacy of the pieces.

“There's some paintings my students have done and some sculptures that you're like, 'Wow,’” Campbell said.

Morgan-Davis said the FAB Showcase above all else gives students a chance to flex their artistic muscles, an opportunity that they get before and after the actual night of the show. She said people may have seen a television commercial advertising the night of the showcase, which was created by students at the intermediate high school.

“That was a group of students using what they learned in art and media, something that was able to be shared with the entire community,” Morgan-Davis said.