High school hosts Arts Fair, raises funds for Japan relief

Apr 8, 2011

Wareham High School hosted its third annual Arts Fair Thursday night and celebrated art in five forms: visual, music, storytelling, drama, and movement. All proceeds of the fair will be donated to the relief effort in Japan.

"We started [the fair] just to promote the arts," said Wareham High School art teacher Amy Dion. "This year, though, we’re donating all proceeds to the Red Cross.” Last year’s Arts Fair brought in approximately $500, she said.

In light of the recent earthquake in Japan, Wareham High School students participating in the Arts Fair elected to donate the proceeds of the event to disaster relief. “I think it’s great that it was a student-driven idea,” said Wareham High School principal Scott Palladino. “It’s great to see that we teach our kids a global view and to give back.”

Justin Suriel, a junior was folding origami cranes for $1 each in an effort to raise funds. “I do origami as a hobby. I offered to make these cranes because I already knew how to make them,” Suriel said. The goal was to reach 1,000 cranes.

Dion explained: “One-thousand cranes are said to grant a wish."

A lineup of students and teachers performed a variety of music. The evening included a rendition of Lady Gaga’s "Bad Romance" by freshman Michaela Bottino, a Bollywood dance by junior Twinkle Patel, and theater teacher Don Bliss’ gospel-focused Gloryland Parson Band.

“We have some very talented children,” said Bliss, also the Pastor of the East Freetown Congregational Christian Church whose band was comprised of three fellow ministers and him.

Student artwork filled the Arts Fair along with pottery demonstrations and a henna tattooing station.

“I went to high school here so I come back each year and display some of my work,” said Aerica Lovet, a 2009 Wareham grad and a sophomore at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

Christina Kunze, who teaches 7th grade art at Wareham Middle School, conducted a pottery demonstration at the fair. “In Bridgewater we did a district-wide arts fair so I helped bring in the middle school’s artwork this year. We’re displaying the middle school’s work for the first time this year,” she said.

Visitors filled the foyer where the fair was held to check out the displays and other offerings.

“Wareham has a great capacity to support the arts,” said Bliss. He added: “Tonight isn’t your only chance to support them, though. Stay involved as much as you can with art and music.”