Court Attorney Referee Margaret Logan had a vision for her courtroom. She wanted to mimic what the Erie County Family Court has done since 2003 and have area schools bring their artwork to the building.

"The students were asked what family means to them," she said. "We wanted to see how well it went and mix it up a bit in the future. In the spring I will ask around at local schools for the next one."

Article Photos

OBSERVER Photos by Jasmine Willis
Top: Brocton Central School sixth-grader David Brown shows off his Christmas family memory drawing (above him.)

Above: Elementary students were asked to take their names and place them on their artwork.

 

 

 

Brocton Elementary Art teacher Amy Gawronski added the school is very honored to be the first ones.

"Margaret Logan asked me if I would like to have students' art in the court house," she said. "There were 45 winners who got picked to have their art showcased."

There were at least three students picked in each class K-6 to provide the art, which is in many different forms. Some had done drawings, others did paintings, and a few did other forms of art. The art will be shown until the end of the school year.

The students who participated in this event include: Jena McClosky, Caleb Sprague, Nathyn Rodriguez, Robert Head, David Brown, Donald Bloss, Eli Stressing, Peter Bloss, Kazlyn Trask, Derek Jagoda, Savannah Morello, Isabella Grover, Makayla Curry, Jackson Burns, Raynathyn Santiago, Andrew Reed, Colie Bundy, Zoe Spiller, Izabelle Abbey, Keyonna Kent, Baileigh Burlingame, Dominic Seavy, Samantha Halpainy, Ava Burridge, Eric Pryll, Keara Brady, Anthony Cruz, Grant Gustafson, Julia Miller, Michael Matos, Keara Kinkaid, Dakotah Sprague, Kristi Crandall, Elizabeth Grover, Lauren Stressing, Jenna Johnson, Bianca Walker, Aryella Schichtel, Jena Vacanti, Joie Wisecarver, Emily Coleman, Makayla Brisbey, Michael Miller, and Angelina Rexford.

"Each one is based off of a famous artists work," Gawronski said. "It is all about family, what they love about family, and what they do together as a family. Some did drawings of camping with their family. I was so excited for my students. This is something they will remember all their lives, and we are very honored to be here. I wanted to showcase their work and show what they can do, it really means a lot to them."

Family Court Judge Judith Claire noted the court has been filled with artwork from other students over the years, but never to this extent.

"We have artwork throughout the whole court house," she said. "Some have been done by foster care children and others done by youth centers, but this is the first school. It is really important to have this art here, because it makes people feel better."

"I think this is fabulous," Claire continued, " ... to see the court filled with happy joyful children. For a whole year they can bring their family in to see their work and that is very special for them and for us. it reminds people that kids come first."

Claire explained what this art means to the court house, which received its first artwork from a couple of local high school students shortly after it opened in 2007.

"Parents bring children with them when they come into court, and we don't want the kids to see their parents fighting so we created a safe place for them," she said. "Our old place wasn't very good for kids, but now we have this place. People get really emotional with issues involving family. In our old building we didn't have the lighting or the space. People were packed in and it felt very unsafe. By the time they would come into court it made it very difficult to work things out."

The judge added she feels they court can accomplish a lot more with collaboration with the community.

"It really makes a difference in helping family and kids be successful," Claire said.

Elementary Principal Sandra Olson said she is very glad to have such passionate art teachers like Gawronski and High School Art teacher Stephanie Brash teaching her students.

Gawronski is very thankful to the Westfield and Mayville Rotary Club for their support in paying for the picture frames and that is made a big difference.

Superintendent John Hertlein believes the art teachers really helped the students grow and mature while putting together this project.

"The artwork is designed to help people feel more comfortable," he said. "It has meaning, not just to be colorful, but to help people relax a little. This is a traumatic place. People who are traumatized want to be put into a better physical environment."

Hertlein added the school was very proud to be selected to be the first public school art show.

"To be selected to have pieces of their artwork shown may cause them to want to do a career in art," he said. "I thank the Rotary Club for coming up with the frames, it really adds to the artwork."

Students may come and see their work when the court house is open until the end of the school year.

Logan took the students on a tour throughout the courtroom before they all piled onto a bus and went back to finish their school day.