Dare County Schools Art Show a Joy
Portrait Collage by Samantha Fonseca. Portrait is FKS Twigs, British blues and pop performer.
As a reporter I get to cover a lot of stories. Some are serious, some fun, some are important because they mean a lot to Outer Banks community. The one story, though, that gives me more joy to cover than any other is the Dare County Schools Art Show.
Held every year at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head it is a showcase for the remarkable talents of our kids—and that’s the talents of every grade of every school because the gallery is filled with artwork from first grade through 12th.
It’s also a showcase for the amazing skills of the art teachers, because this wouldn’t happen if there wasn’t someone working with the kids and helping them to realize their potential.
Marina Dianna, daughter of NBS writer Lindsey Dianna, posing with her artwork.
What is so wonderful about this particular art show is the sheer enjoyment—exuberance—and pride that is everywhere—and it is my observation that as proud and excited as the kids are, the parents are even more excited and proud of what their children have accomplished.
Walking around the gallery, the progression of concept is fascinating. The fun and happiness of life fills the artwork of the first and second graders, giving way over time to a more profound and nuanced view of the world that is so much a part of the art of high school students, especially juniors and seniors.
It’s not all about art—or perhaps it is about art and the possible rewards. Glenn and Pat Eure always put out a nice table of food and goodies for parents and the kids. Some veggies, finger food, soda and lots of cookies—which is where the youngest artists seem to gravitate . . . after finding their art and getting their picture taken by assorted parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
Glenn and Pat Eure who have donated the use of the Ghost Fleet Gallery to Dare County Schools for at least 28 or 29 years.
I had a chance to speak to the Eures about the show and I asked them how many years they had been turning their gallery over to the kids. They put their heads together. “Somewhere around 30 years,” Glenn said. “I don’t think it’s quite that many. Maybe it’s 28 or 29.”
That is an extraordinary commitment to the community and our children, and an art show that I’ll be looking forward to next year about this time.
The Dare County Schools Art Show will run through Sunday, January 24. The cookies have already been consumed, but the art is still waiting.
