30TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF ART ~ CT

Wilton High School celebrates 30th annual festival of arts, languages

SUSANA ESTES, SUSANNE BRANDT, RUSTY HURD, WESLEY CLAPP and TRACEY O’HARA celebrate 30 years of Arts and Culture

WILTON — WESLEY CLAPP said his arts education at Wilton High School was instrumental in him becoming the art director, brand stylist, illustrator and visual communicator he is today. The 2005 graduate returned to the high school for its 30th annual arts festival to speak to aspiring young artists.

“The staff here at Wilton High School is obviously tremendous. So it just feels right to come back and reconnect and say hello to my old dear friends and see what they’re doing and what exercises and programs they’re rolling out for all the new young kids,” he said. “MRS. (RUSTY) HURD gave me everything that I needed in terms of space and time and materials.”

As the K-12 instructional leader of fine and performing arts, HURD said the arts festival has been an essential part of the high school — highlighting the works of current and former students, as well as artists within and outside the area.

Such celebration is crucial, especially amid potential budget cuts where the arts may not always be on the high priority level, she added.

“To see a practicing artist is so important. They give great info to students and let them know how to be an artist and also get an appreciation for different art forms,” said HURD, who has taught at Wilton Public Schools for the past 40 years. “He’s a perfect example of the kinds of things we’d like to see come out of the arts department.”

SCOTT WEBSTER, the high school’s instructional leader of world languages, offered similar insight on the importance of running the festival of languages. From Wednesday through Friday, students attended various cultural events, from Tibetan singing bowls and German folk dancing to Indian and French crafts workshops and the much anticipated world languages talent show.

“I think it’s a great way to open the doors to the world and give kids the opportunity and exposure to different cultures, different countries, different ways of thinking and it’s a really great way to bring the school together,” he said.

In the 14 years he’s been involved with organizing the festival, he said the program has grown so large that events are filled within two to three days and require student involvement.“I think the best part is that it’s mostly student-driven,” he said. “The majority of the presentations are run by the students themselves.”

Students were able to talk about their cultural backgrounds, presenting on India, Korea, Italy, Argentina, France, Ecuador, and Ghana, among other countries. They also weighed in on diversity issues faced in the high school and the broader community.

Aqueelah Muhammad, a senior at the high school, sat on this student panel and served as one of the co-presidents of the festival of languages. “No one really talks about their heritage or their culture and I feel like this is a good way for students to open up and find others who also share their culture,” she said. “This week gives people a chance to come out of their shells.”

SOURCE: THE WILTON BULLETIN, Print
SOURCE: THE HOUR, On-Line
WRITEN BY: STEPHANIE H. KIM