Open the door to the 40th Student Art Show at Boothbay Region Art Foundation, and enter a world of exploration through color, technique, history, and imagination that has led to some thought-provoking work. All (approximately) told, 450 works of art are displayed! Yes, you’ll be there for a while … and not even realize time is passing!

All school students on the peninsula – Boothbay Region elementary and high schools, Edgecomb Eddy School, Southport Central School and, for the first time, the Center For Teaching & Learning. Work is submitted by the art teachers at the schools: At CTL - Angela Lathem-Ballard teaches grades 5-6 Humanities and is the Arts Specialist, teaching Pre-K - 8 Visual Art; Jessica Nadeau/Boothbay Region Elementary School, Manon Lewis/Boothbay Region High School, and Jennifer McIvor at Southport Central School.

Doesn’t the art by the tiny ones make you smile? Their minds soaking up … everything. For example, at BRES the construction paper fish are adorned with string, yarn, pieces of cloth, ribbon and more. Some fish are open mouthed (I like to think these are singing), another fish body resembled an accordion’s bellows, there’s a fish wearing a smile as it dives down into the sea ... I spent a lot of time on this wall of art by the BRES first grade.

Meanwhile the Pre-K students at CTL learned about assemblage art inspired by Louise Nevelson’s sculptures, with all objects dyed “Pepto-pink,” which actually makes them pop! The first and second grades molded images of their pet dogs, or dogs that are so endearing. Some are waving, most wear collars with names like “Truffle Milden,” and happy expressions or bow ties, er, bone-ties. Love!

BRHS freshman Elijah Smith’s linoleum print & watercolor, “Hawk Catching Fish,” depicts a hawk (looking quite pleased with his catch) standing atop the fish like a paddleboard, riding gentle waves as a giant sun/sunflower begins to set. What a fun, short story this one is.

Junior Eleanor Marshall’s gesture drawing eerily has many of the same elements: A human figure is in a position of submission – on hands and knees, head slightly bowed while another stands tall with one foot on the figure’s back as colony stars are melting off the American flag. This one will induce a lump in your throat.

Bullying is addressed by Isabelle Andreason during the lesson, Art with a Social Message. Body image slurs and taunts of varying size are voiced by an invisible face; because we all know the faces change, but the cutting words are always the same.

On the lighter side, the Japanese lights and fans near the door are colorful and so pleasing to take in. The lights are so well done I could imagine, if sold, they would go as fast as June Rose’s hats! The assemblage work by the seniors near the Japanese works are not so light and beautiful. After looking at them individually, consider each of these assemblages as chapters of a tale that, together, are testaments of time building up to the structures being dilapidated over time, or, perhaps, the remains of homes and other human structures post-bombing. As I said, there’s a lot going on in this show across the media to be considered.

I have to end this column with the charming and fanciful “Fairy Bio/Book Art” piece by Maria Michael. Actual books are used as outer walls of a library for fairies …. and mice as it turns out. Inside little books line numerous shelves on both sides of the room. A mouse, with tiny tools in his bib overalls front pocket, stands on a ladder replacing a fallen book. How do we know it has fallen? Across the room is another mouse, arms raised in alarm circled by four or five books on the floor at her feet. The wallpapered wall and stained glass window add further charm to this lovely scene in a place out of time ...

If only there was room to write about all of the work in this show! It is a, oh, I'm just going to say it: This show is a knockout. It is a true not-to-be-missed event by the young minds and imaginations of our communities' kids whose teachers have inspired and encouraged them to find expression in all arts media.

And what about those pocket shrines? Now I must begin collecting items for my own pocket shrine (portable altar) … did I forget to talk about those? Unthinkable! Small cases, tins, etc. house memories of a loved one(s) or of a place holding special significance and affection ….

The Student Art Show has its final weekend coming right up at Boothbay Region Art Foundation, 1 Townsend Ave. downtown in Boothbay Harbor. Show dates and times: Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.;  with the final show on Sunday, May 18, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.