Student art goes in nationwide exhibit

Submitted by admin on Mon, 04/07/2008 - 16:57

By Katherine Miller

CROWLEY – Recently, many art teachers nationwide responded to a call from an online art museum, Artsonia, asking them to instruct a lesson on the city of New Orleans and submit their students’ artwork to a new exhibit titled “New Orleans: Feast for the Eyes.” Ms. Patricia Ronkartz, director of the LEAP program at South Crowley Elementary, responded to the call.

This past weekend, her students’ efforts were honored and celebrated by art educators from around the nation during the National Art Education Association Convention (NAEA), which was held in New Orleans.

”We had a lot of fun coming up with unique ideas for the exhibit after learning about a city so rich in culture, history and the arts,” said Ronkartz. She was very enthusiastic in speaking of her students’ work, and explained that because this program encourages kids to express what they have learned through art, these will be things that will stick out in their minds and leave impressions for life.

The LEAP program, which is an acronym for the Leadership and Enrichment For Acadia Parish, is for gifted students and gives them areas to explore to find out their marketable skills potential. It is very apparent by speaking with Ms. Ronkartz how much pride she takes in her work. She further explained that the kids she teaches in her classroom form bonds for life, and some even stray from the paths that they were on, such as being a doctor, and find careers in art because of their higher order thinking skills that linked together with the lessons they have learned.

In addition to the recent New Orleans lesson, many more works of art have been placed on the Artsonia website.

“Currently, we are working with Ms. Charlotte Jeffers to feature the Rice Museum and possibly get it running again soon, we hope,” smiled Ronkartz. Also, next month, her students’ models of the Vivian Alexander Egg collection will be on display at the Opelousas Interpretative Center, and they will have a personal tour given by Alexander himself. Also, next month, her students’ models of the Vivian Alexander Egg collection will be on display at the Opelousas Interpretative Center, and they will have a personal tour given by Alexander himself.

Ronkartz ended with these final thoughts, “I love coming to work everyday. I have been doing this for 24 years, and I would like to continue doing this for the rest of my life.” It is very evident that it is the program as well as the teacher, that really make a difference in kids lives. Congratulations to you, Ms. Ronkartz and your class on the national recognition you have earned.