“Artful Ascent”: A Celebration of Student Art
Strengthening Community Through Artistic Expression
January 22, 2025, Pickerington, OH - Despite the chill in the air, the warmth of creativity and community filled the Pickerington Public Library on Tuesday evening. Families, friends, and community members gathered for the opening of “Artful Ascent,” a new art installation that celebrates the artistic achievements of Pickerington Local School District (PLSD) students from kindergarten through high school. This inaugural collaboration between the Pickerington Local School District and the Pickerington Community Arts Committee showcases a diverse range of student artwork and highlights the vibrant creativity of the district’s young artists.
The exhibition, open to the public through March 8, offers a captivating glimpse into the artistic journeys of PLSD students. It features a variety of mediums, including pencil drawings, paintings, 3D sculptures, clay works, paper assemblages, and photography. Visual Arts Creativity Specialist Sheri Broz-England expressed her excitement about the event, noting, “This is our premiere art exhibit for the community art committee. It gives a nice overview of what our program is here in Pickerington and showcases the amazing things our students are doing.”
The opening reception provided attendees with the opportunity to meet the artists and hear their stories. Ricksi Rumajar, a 10th-grade student from Pickerington High School Central, shared the inspiration behind his photograph, titled “Basketball.”
“It’s my favorite sport. I’ve been playing it since fourth grade,” he said. He described how he captured the shot with a digital Canon EOS Rebel T7 borrowed from school, saying, “After a lot of attempts, I found a good photo of the basketball and loved the result.”
Younger artists also shone brightly. Ava Wilson, a fourth grader from Sycamore Creek Elementary School, proudly presented her “Colorful Castle,” inspired by Paul Klee’s “Castle and Sun.” When asked what it felt like to see her artwork displayed, she smiled with pride.
“It feels good,” she said.
Heritage Elementary School student Alaina Phillips was speechless when asked about her submission titled: “Line Lion.” Looking up at her mom, she softly said,
“... It makes me happy.”
Her mother, Lindsay Phillips, reflected on the importance of the event,
“I think it’s great, bringing the community in and giving parents the opportunity to see more of their kids’ work.”
Lakeview Junior High School Visual Arts Creativity Specialist Sheri Broz-England emphasized the broader impact of art on students, saying,
“Having arts for students builds confidence and gives them a sense of self. This is really a time for us to go beyond our classroom walls and show students that what they’re doing is important and valued by others.”
The event also marked a significant milestone for the newly established Pickerington Community Arts Committee.
“This night is the beginning of a dream,” said Pickerington Board of Education Member Cathy Olshefski. “Art just makes people happy. This is another way we can showcase our students, the City of Pickerington, and bring people together. This is what I love. This is definitely one of the reasons we did this - to bring people together.”
Echoing her sentiment, Pickerington City Council Member Kevin Kemper added,
“By bringing art into the community, we can nourish minds and help bring our community a little closer together. This is just the beginning, and we see so much potential for future events. As Board of Education Member Cathy Olshefski mentioned, the sky is really the limit. We are really thankful that the school district, the library and the whole community are really supporting us in this.”
The success of “Artful Ascent” was made possible by the dedication of PLSD’s 21 art teachers, the efforts of Diane Fish and Jennifer Marsh in curating the installation, and the support of the Pickerington Public Library. As attendees admired the artwork, the buzz in the room reflected the joy and pride of both the artists and the community.
The installation is open to the public during library hours through March 8.
For more information, visit PickeringtonArt.com.
