Rappahannock Schools Art
The arts are alive in Rappahannock County schools and RAAC is there to support them with summer arts workshops, summer chorus & drama camp, after-school enrichment classes, grants to faculty & students — and with a display of their work at the Fall Art Tour main gallery.
Collaborative murals and installations from Rappahannock schools surround the main gallery that features hundreds of works by studio and gallery artists participating on the Tour.
Five schools are represented this year — Rappahannock County High School, Rappahannock County Elementary School, Wakefield Country Day School, Hearthstone School and Raising Brain Microschool.
Each was invited to create a collaborative mural or art installation with a theme of their choice. The teams of student artists range from kindergarteners to 12th graders. While each piece is unique, there are common threads that unite them — every child is creative & imaginative, and by working & problem-solving together they can create something valuable and beautiful.
The main gallery is open on Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3 from 10 am until 5 pm. The show will thereafter be open for visitors through December 13, Monday -Thursday from 10 am until 4 pm and Fridays from 10 am until 2 pm. Admission is FREE.
Special thanks to the Washington School for welcoming the Rappahannock Schools art, and the public.
The Washington School is at 567 Mount Salem Avenue in the town of Washington.
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Rappahannock County Elementary School
The “Where I’m From” Quilt
Rooted in a study of personal identity, the poems focus on aspects that celebrate our individuality and prompts a personal exploration of background, home, childhood, upbringing, and family culture.
Students wrote their personal ‘Where I’m From’ poem based on their own lived experience. Students combined their text with images to create their quilt squares and combined all squares to make this quilt.
Student Artists – 4th through 7th graders
Art Teacher – Amy Grady
Principal – Jennifer Wissinger
Rappahannock County High School
“The Bigger Picture”
A true community makes individuals feel like they are part of something bigger. It makes people feel comfortable, supported and inspired to participate. It takes many people from different backgrounds, with different ideas and different needs, coming together to create something beautiful together.
Each student has presented what makes them feel like part of their own community and they all fit together like a puzzle to create “The Bigger Picture.”
Student Artists — 8th through 12th graders
Art Teacher — Erin Platt
Principal — Dr. Mary Jane Boynton
Hearthstone School
“Give Peace a Chance”
The idea for this art project came from a discussion with the Upper School students and their Art teacher about the painful disturbances in our country and world. They talked about human struggles with racism, hatred, anti-LGBTQ hate crimes, and climate change. They tried to comprehend the destruction of the hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and floods. No heart was left untouched by yet another horrific school shooting and the conflicts in the Israel-Hamas and Russo-Ukrainian wars. The students imagined a world of peace on this beautiful Earth —
“ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.”
Student Artists — Upper School Students
Art Teacher — Monica Newell
Director — Jane Mullan
Wakefield Country Day School
“Thinking about Fall”
After deciding on the theme FALL and choosing to use foam plate printmaking as the medium, students brainstormed what images they could draw that might conjure up the idea of the Fall. They had no trouble coming up with a long list of classic fall imagery including pumpkins, acorns, mushrooms, and falling leaves. They also thought of things that we associate with the weather getting colder like sweaters, warm socks, and cups of hot drinks. Halloween imagery was on their mind as well.
Can you find a ghost? Or a black cat?
Student Artists — 1st through 5th graders
Art Teacher — Kerrie Mullany
Head of School — John Elmore
Raising Brain Microschool
“Together We Shine: A Mosaic of Unity”
Our mural features a radiant sun at its center, with each ray painted by a learner aged 5-13, representing their unique identities, hobbies, and the colors that bring them joy. This project offered a valuable opportunity for teamwork and negotiation, enhancing communication skills and emotional expression. Divided into three distinct sections, the mural emphasizes the theme of unity through diversity, illustrating how different parts can come together to create a cohesive whole. As learners contributed their individual designs, they deepened their appreciation for one another and cultivated a stronger sense of community, making the mural a powerful symbol of togetherness.
Student Artists — Ages 5 through 13
Art Teachers — Ashley Bobst assisted by Anna Aldredge
Director — Ashley Bobst