SACRAMENTO – Burns Valley School fifth grade students had a chance Tuesday to tour the California State Capitol, where their artwork is on display now through Sept. 30.
The students saw their artwork hung in the halls of the great building and gathered in the Assembly chamber where they met Assemblymember Mariko Yamada.
“Maybe one of you will be sitting here one day,” Yamada, who represents Lake County in the Legislature, said as the students swarmed around her anxious to ask their questions.
Yamada worked closely with Burns Valley School teachers to get the students' artwork displayed in the capitol.
The theme of the fifth grade students' exhibit is “An Exploration of the Senses.” Works convey student impressions of sight, touch, taste and sound.
Burns Valley School sixth graders also have an exhibit at the State Capitol. It focuses on the form and function of the leaves of California trees.
“The artwork ranges from colorful abstracts drawn with bright highlighters to hearts and sunbursts made from Nerds candy,” Yamada said. “Student art always brightens up the hallways in the capitol, but the art of Burns Valley students will really surprise you with its attention to technique along with its creativity and vibrancy.”
Burns Valley School teachers Kim Lambert and Jenna Radtke guided the fifth-grade students in their artistic efforts, using an interdisciplinary approach that connects reading to putting paint to paper.
“We asked students 'how does an author's point of view affect their ability to write a piece of literature and how does that process translate to art?' It is cross curricular and they are very aware of their choices,” Radtke said.
The teachers said that if the bar is set high, students will meet the challenge. The process of moving a blank piece of paper to an art exhibit in the Capitol was an exercise in demonstrating to students that, even if they come from humble beginnings, they can have exceptional aspirations.
“We wanted them to see that they can be part of a larger community,” Lambert said. “That they are deserving of having their art displayed somewhere important.”
Road construction delays put the students' trip a bit behind schedule on Tuesday, causing them to miss their staff-guided tour of the building.
However, Healthy Start Site Supervisor Gina Fortino Dickson, who doubles as a Clearlake City Council member, was on hand to lead the tour.
The students were awestruck as they entered the vast doors of the State Capitol Building, making comments about the large statue of Queen Isabella and Columbus that stands near the entrance.
The students marched orderly, as directed, up the massive staircase leading to third floor where their artwork is on display and they met Yamada.
After meeting Yamada, the students continued their tour, with Fortino Dickson pointing out to them pictures of past and present area representatives, a display representing Lake County among other California counties and the Governor's Office, where each and every student took the opportunity to touch the golden bear outside the Governor's door as they passed by.
The student art is on display on the third floor of the Capitol Annex outside the offices of Assembly Rules Committee, Room 3016, and Legislative Counsel, Room 3021. For more information, contact Yamada's Capitol Office at 916-319-2004.
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