http://youtu.be/ItTDVv_y6U4
Art can be found displayed throughout Doña Ana County, and at the Doña Ana County government center even young elementary school artists get the chance to have their work featured.
Suravi Gurung, a fourth grader from University Hills Elementary proudly showed off her artwork.
“My artwork here,” Gurung said. “Mrs. Reynolds, while we were in art class she thought of this amazing design of self-portraits but with imaginary here. So I decided to take that on into the next level, and I customized it.”
Her hair featured her favorite foods, ice cream scoops and popsicles. 5th grader Karson Million was also happy to show off her camouflage design.
“We did it in art class with Miss Maggie,” Million said. “We were supposed to do camouflage, and we were going to imbed the soldier into the camouflage.”
Cynthia Smith, an art teacher with Las Cruces Public Schools says it’s important to have art classes in a child’s curriculum.
“Because it touches on all learning modalities,” Smith said. “Their creativity, problem solving, we incorporate art history, mathematics, science.”
Karson Million says she likes art class because she can be herself.
“I guess I’ve always liked art,” Million said. “Just doing what you like, and you don’t have to do it any certain way.”
The kids at the Doña Ana County Government center were all smiles showing off their work to friends and family. Cynthia Smith says they try to acknowledge their hard work in the schools too.
“We try to make a big deal of it,” Smith said. “We announce it on our local in-school TV programming that they have. They get a certificate, and award, and I try to go into their classroom in front of their peers, and they stand up and all their peers applaud them. So, it’s fun.”
This student artwork will be on display through next October when a new group of students will get to have their art displayed.
Smith said its hard just choosing a few students.
“In the fall,” Smith said. “I let the 5th grade be showcased because they’ll be graduating in the spring. And so, in the spring I try to choose either 3rd or 4th grade artists. So, in this frame we have both 3rd and 4th grade artists represented.”
Suravi Gurung says having her picture displayed will help her to keep trying hard in art class.
“I feel very proud, very happy, this wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t have my teacher, Mrs. Reynolds,” Gurung said.
The elementary school art is displayed on the first floor of the Doña Ana County Government Center
