The show will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., March 26 at Comprehensive High School.
A visitor checks out student art work last year at Chicopee Comprehensive High School's annual art show.
CHICOPEE – Students will become the teachers in a new type of arts show where they will demonstrate and teach a wide variety of visual art and music.
Comprehensive High School will host an Interactive Arts and Media Student Exhibition for the general public March 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the school.
The school hosts an annual art show where students from all art classes as well as after-school programs put their art on display, but this show will have a different feel, said Paula Fahey, an art teacher who is organizing the event with student teacher Amanda Robillard.
“I’m trying to get more of the school involved and having it interactive so people understand what kids learn in an art room,” Fahey said.
One of the differences is there will be learning stations set up in one of the art rooms where students will be there to teach parents and other members of the public about water color techniques, acrylic painting and a student will be modeling for a figure-drawing demonstration, she said.
“It will be all the kids hosting it, sharing their talents and abilities,” Fahey said.
In another area, one of the students will display how he creates different special effects that can be used in movies, she said.
Students art work and other work will also be on display during the event, she said.
“I’m trying to get more of the school involved and having it interactive so people understand what kids learn in an art room,” Fahey said.
It is common in art class for students to be offering their classmates ideas and teaching their peers techniques they have tried, she said.
Music students will also perform solo or in small groups for visitors, those in the culinary arts department will cook and serve food for the visitors and the horticulture department is growing plants for display, Fahey said.
Some of the other groups involved will be the National Honor Society, the Yearbook Club, the Best Buddies program where regular education students join with those with disabilities, and the Anime Club will be showing off some of the students’ cartooning work, she said.
Students who take a television class and air a weekly breakfast show will also talk and demonstrate their work, Fahey said.
Other students will work on computers and demonstrate photograph programs and web design.
“I think it will be fun,” Fahey said. “It empowers them and gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride and makes them a part of the teaching process.”