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mokenamessenger.com LIFE & ARTS
the Mokena Messenger | March 22, 2018 | 23
ArtWorks 2018 showcases creativity of LW community students
Laurie Fanelli
Freelance Reporter
The 2018 edition of Art-
Works featured something
for everyone, including vibrant
paintings, classical
music, interactive collages
and much more. Lincolnway
Community High
School District 210 sponsored
the highly-attended
Saturday, March 17 event
at Lincoln-Way East, which
incorporated students from
32 area schools as well as
professional artists.
The free family-friendly
festival, now in its 23rd
year, allowed attendees to
view hundreds of original
works of art while expressing
their own creativity by
instructor-led activities,
including sessions on origami,
relief printing and
jewelry making. Hickory
Creek Vocal Ensembles, the
Lincoln-Way Youth Strings
Orchestra and the Lincoln-
Way East Jazz Combo were
also on hand to perform
throughout the day.
Frankfort resident and
Hickory Creek eighth-grader
Dane Dal Bianco shared
his musical talents with
ArtWorks attendees by performing
a song as a member
of a trio.
“We’re singing a song
called ‘The Knight and the
Dragon’ which is a fantasy
style piece,” he said. “It’s
very upbeat and tells a story
about a fantasy scenario.
It’s a fun song to sing.”
Members of the Hickory
Creek ensembles performed
in the cafeteria where attendees
could enjoy the
music while looking at the
sprawling Student Art Exhibit.
Mokena resident Ava
Narcissi, a fifth-grader at St.
Mary School, said she was
inspired by spring when
creating her featured work.
“I drew with oil pastel
paints and it’s three flowers:
a rose, daffodil and sunflower,”
she said.
Works from professional
artists including John Tylk
(oil paintings), Ted Fuka
(pastels) and Ken Hawke
(photography) were also on
display in the cafeteria. Tylk
and Fuka were even on hand
to answer questions and
lead demonstrations.
Several art students
from Lincoln-Way Central,
East and West lent a
helping hand throughout
the day assisting young attendees
in creating their
own masterpieces during
the hands-on demos in the
classrooms. New Lenox
resident Payton Eggert, who
takes Ceramics 2 at Central,
assisted during the kite
demonstration.
“This event is great because
you can express yourself
and show younger kids
that art is fun and you don’t
have to be a really good
artist to enjoy art,” Eggert
said. “I think that’s really
important.”
Along with all the Art-
Works fun, attendees were
also invited to stop by
the Frankfort Community
Showcase which was taking
place simultaneously
in the Field House. Lunch
was available in the cafeteria
and all proceeds from
concessions purchases benefited
the High School Art
Clubs.
Members of the fine arts
faculty of District 201 began
coordinating the event
back in October 2017, taking
care to ensure that the
public would experience the
entire spectrum of talents
local students have to offer.
District Art Department
Chair Phil Labriola said he
loves that ArtWorks encourages
artists of all ages to
come together for one show.
Frankfort resident Kylie Steinhauser poses in front of Anna McDonald School’s “What Lifts You” collage Saturday, March
17, during ArtWorks 2018 at Lincoln-Way East High School. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
Families enjoy the Student Art Exhibit segment of ArtWorks
2018.
“We have pieces from
kindergartners all the way
through seniors in high
school, so the show itself is
cool because you get to see
the students’ progression,”
Labriola said. “And, I really
like the opportunity for the
St. Mary Mokena student Siena Aducci, of New Lenox,
shows her mom Heidi Aducci her artwork.
kids, especially the younger
kids, to get their artwork out
there and have their families
come out and see it.”
He added: “It’s a fun experience
for everybody and
a great day to come out and
enjoy art.”