GUYTON — The continual cultivation of art students at South Effingham High School produced a bumper crop of outstanding works in 2022.
The second annual Spring Art Exhibition in the school lobby featured 140 pieces selected by teachers Lindsey Gerow and Danielle Province. The inaugural show had only 80.
“It’s a huge difference,” Gerow said.
An artist reception was conducted in the school cafeteria April 26. There was also an induction ceremony for 23 National Art Honor Society members.
“This is the Super Bowl of art,” Gerow said excitedly.
Gerow said the 2021 show set the stage for the explosive growth in 2022.
“I the really big thing is just having art visible,” he said. “Last year was our first art exhibit and the kids were like, ‘Oh, wow! This school makes art!’
“Our enrollment increased from that alone.”
South Effingham is also working on an outreach program for eighth graders at the nearby middle school.
“We are growing our program so much that it is going to double by next year,” Gerow said.
Gerow expects that a instructor will be added to South Effingham’s art program soon.
“We are going to have three hundred and some odd students next year between (Province) and I,” she said. “We need a third teacher.”
Gerow said art is enjoying a renaissance throughout the Effingham County School District. Hundreds of creations from multiple schools were displayed earlier this month in the gym at the Clarence E. Morgan Complex.
“We had a great turnout for that,” Gerow said. “That’s a cool venue, too. We will be there again next year.
“We hope to add food trucks and make it a huge, big event.”
Art is already a big deal at South Effingham. One needs to look no further than the painted boulder in front of the school that says, “Art rox.”
“Art is definitely growing throughout the system at a very quick rate,” Gerow said. “However, this is about us working hard and trying to reach the students. ... We are talking about art a lot.
“... If we keep growing like this, it is going to be amazing. It already is amazing.”
