West Aurora celebrates arts

West Aurora Superintendent Jim Rydland has declared this the "year of the arts," and it was apparent Saturday that he was serious.

There were more than 40 performances by bands, choirs, dancers and drama troupes, as well as artwork on exhibit, at the district's first Fine Arts Festival at West Aurora High School. The school's marching band, symphonic band, wind ensemble and wind symphony performed at the field house. The elementary and middle schools also were represented.

A visitor could look up from admiring the artwork of students from Jewel Middle School and listen to the West Aurora madrigal choir perform on the stairwell in full medieval costumes.

Hundreds crammed into classrooms to listen to performances.

"It's cool to see all the different schools and ages represented," said Jennifer Bentley, 14, of Washington Middle School. She and classmate Takia Wade, also 14, had performed a duet on flutes.

Kiefer Wickham, 8, a third-grader at McCleery Elementary School, was proudly showing his mother three pieces of his artwork on exhibit, including "Chickadees in Winter" which he composed with marker, chalk, pencil, glitter and glue.

"Art is my favorite subject," he said.

"His art amazes me; he really has an eye," said his mother, Nicole. "It's a good idea to showcase the artwork and the different bands and choirs like this."

Cindy Reiff was on hand to hear her daughter perform with the honors choir from Herget Middle School.

"Choir takes a lot of her time, but she has made a lot of friends," Reiff said. "It's a good way to spend time."

The artwork on display in the hallways included watercolors, chalk, clay, aluminum and marker.

Christine Wiegert, art teacher at Freeman Elementary School, had some of her gifted students create mosaic stones for gardens out of glass and cement.

"The projects on display are from our regular curriculum," she said. "We pulled aside the outstanding ones.

"It's the first time the district has done this," she added. "It's a wonderful combination of the arts and the schools."