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Shaker Heights Schools News Article

March 2019 | Student Spotlights: Akira Falconer and Ellie White

Last month, two Fernway students — third-grade student Akira Falconer and fourth-grade student Ellie White — were selected as exhibitors in the 39th Annual Youth Art Month Exhibition, sponsored by the Ohio Art Education Association. Akira’s artwork, a mandala, will be on display in the Rhodes State Office Tower in downtown Columbus and Ellie’s Artwork, a pencil drawing of her shoe, will be on display at the State Teacher’s Retirement Systems building, also in downtown Columbus. Their artwork is among 130 student artworks on display from around the state. The exhibition is open weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through March 23.

We caught up with Akira and Ellie to learn more about them and their passion for art.

Akira Falconer

Tell me about your mandala.
Last year, in art, Mrs. M-C said that we were going to do a mandala. When she was talking about it, I was thinking about what I was going to put in it. And I was thinking about having six parts with six different patterns, so stripes and circles and twists. I also decided to use colors that I haven’t used as much.

So was this an opportunity to experiment with colors.
Yes.

How does this compare to other art projects?
This was my favorite. I could use so many colors and I drew lots of things that I’ve never drawn before.

What’s your favorite subject at school?
I like all of them, but I love art because I can express myself. I like to paint a lot at home, too. I have paint, crayons, markers and pencils. My favorite thing to use is paint because you can blend it and actually mix a color and it’s new. When you use crayons, you can make a color, but you can still see the colors you used to make it, but with paint you can make new colors.

What’s your favorite color?
I love teal. Because it has two of my favorite colors in it: blue and green.

Are you a fan of the art museum?
I’ve been so many times. I love it because it has pictures of people and of land and it has anything you want.

Do you creat art at home?
I do! At home, I painted a picture that has a bunch of stuff in it. I painted an angel, dogs the Eiffel Tower and the sky. I also like to read and play with my brothers and make food.

What do you make?
I like to make grilled cheese. But I also like to make salad with cheese and peppers.

What do you like about art with Mrs. M-C?
I like to draw and I like to make pots. I made one last year that has dots in it. I have it at home in my room.

Ellie White

Tell us a little about your drawing.
It was a project where we were learning about shading. We had to wear the same shoes for a few weeks. We’d take our shoes off and we had to put it in the same perspective every single time so that it was in the same position. I had to position the laces every time. I had a lot of fun doing it. I’m really proud of it because I didn’t think it would turn our really good, but it actually did. I’m looking forward to seeing the exhibit so that I can see all the other students’ artwork.

Is art one of your favorite classes?
Yeah. I really like it. It’s not like schoolwork, so it’s a relaxing time. It’s not the whole class, it’s just you focusing on your work and expressing yourself. I think Mrs. M-C teaches us a lot about art through all the projects and the different styles that we work on.

I’m told this is your second artwork on display since you’ve been a student at Fernway?
In kindergarten, my butterfly collage was selected for the same exhibit. It was an Eric Carle project. It was damaged during the exhibition, but they sent me a copy of it on a canvas and I have it hanging in my room now.

Do you like to doodle in your spare time?
Definitely. I like just using colored pencil and pencil sketches. I’m not a big fan of markers and paint. I like that pencils are easier to control because the color doesn’t bleed and because you can shade with them.

Are there any classes that you’re looking forward to once you’re at High School?
I really want to take photography. I like taking pictures and editing them.

What other interests to you have?
I really like math at school. Right now, we’re learning fractions and I like them. It’s hard sometimes, but it’s fun. I also play violin in El Sistema.

How do you like being at Woodbury this year?
I like it, it’s bigger. But I miss Fernway, especially since this was supposed to be my last year there.

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