Fifth graders take a field trip for a true gallery experience

This week some local fifth grade art classes had the opportunity to visit College Corner’s Framemaker Gallery, and were allowed behind the scenes to the framing business. Owner Crystal Clark had prepared a brief presentation of her work, but worried that fifth graders would find it boring. She was pleased to be wrong about that-

In and of itself, framing is an art! The students were able to walk through the entire process with Crystal, from selecting matting colors, to measuring and cutting frames, to applying backing and fastening the hanging wire. “Measure twice, cut once,” she told the kids, many of whom had heard this old adage before. There were many mini math lessons within the trip, as well as talk of tools and materials. The students were respectful, polite and engaged.

Mrs. Persinger walked down from College Corner Elementary with her art classes for these trips, and allowed the students to browse through the shop, several getting their first glimpse at a true art gallery. There are walls and bins and racks filled with all types of pieces: Prints of famous paintings, modern art posters, oil on canvas and watercolors from local artists, locally crafted ceramics, antique concert posters…Framemaker has so much to take in. Field trips are notoriously difficult to plan and orchestrate, and the same could be said for Fifth graders in May. And yet these folks made it look easy, as well as informative and fun. How lovely for the school to have the access to a place like Framemaker, and to adults who care enough to make it happen. Kudos to all!

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Written by Mary Apel and published to Union County Connect on May 10, 2024.