Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® and the Sherando High School Art Department have once again partnered up to create the fourth annual Festival-inspired coloring book. It highlights popular Apple Blossom events, including a few new ones, highlighting the first Jimmy Buffet Tribute Dance Party! SHS art teacher, Jillian Legge, shared that, “It has really been a privilege to see how this project has evolved over the past four years and how excited the students are to be able to be a part of the experience of taking ownership over something that gets distributed throughout the entire community. To celebrate the success and effort of our students on the coloring book, the Apple Blossom Festival hosted a launch party in the Sherando art room, treating the students to pizza and giving them each a copy of the book. It is a fun experience for the students to see the final coloring book in print for the first time. We really appreciate the opportunity the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® has allowed our students to have. It is truly very special.” The funds that the high school art department raised from last year’s fundraiser were used to purchase materials for the school’s fine art show that occurs at the end of the school year to recognize all the hard work students have put in throughout the year. Other ways that the department has been able to benefit from the fundraiser have been being able to purchase additional drying racks, storage systems, and allow students the opportunity to attend interactive field trips to experience art and culture in and around the Shenandoah Valley. With the funds raised this school year, the art department intends on purchasing a brand-new potter’s wheel for a new 3D art course! Engaging the next generation of festival goers continues to be a priority for the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® and this partnership has opened another door to working with and supporting local students. This project has proven to be a perfect fit for both organizations.
Returning for a second year to help with the creation of the coloring book, Helen Chestnut has played an integral role in helping the students to edit and fine tune each page, giving positive feedback and constructive criticism when needed. "I think this is such a creative and exciting way for our students to be able to interact with their community and appreciate how the Apple Blossom Festival has developed over time. This year, we worked with students to revisit the festivals and events of Apple Blossoms past. We learned about the history of the festival and took inspiration from how events have evolved over the years."
Joining the art department for her first-year of teaching this school year is Leah Rogers. Despite the busyness that comes with being a first-year teacher, Ms. Rogers still found time to assist in providing feedback and constructive criticism for student pages. She played a key role in the finalization of the coloring pages after students submitted their first drafts.
School involvement has been a vital component of the Festival since it began. High school bands have performed in parades, demonstrating their musical abilities, while many students have taken part in the Bloomin Mile race. In addition, the carnival and midway have drawn large numbers of student attendees over the years. The coloring book project highlights students’ artistic talents and reflects the personal connections they have developed with the Festival. SHS senior Gracie Lee said, “This is my third year in a row working on the coloring book! I think it's a really great chance for everyone to come together and see different perspectives and art styles. It’s really cool to see how everyone’s different pages combine into one big project.”
Another senior at SHS, Olivia Stapleton, created both the page for the Prayer Brunch, as well as the cover for this year’s book. When asked about her work, she stated “I felt like this was a great opportunity to share my skills with other people and the community. This is the first time I had the chance to work on the cover of the book and also the first time I took on more than one project for this fundraiser. I was grateful to get feedback from fellow artists at Sherando and have them help me grow in my career as an artist.”
100% of the proceeds from the sale of the coloring books will support the Sherando High School art department. Books are now on sale at the following locations: Sherando High School Art Department, Gore’s Fresh Meats & Deli, Richards Fruit Market, Newtown Mercantile, The FCPS School Board Office Art Show, and the gift shop at Handley Library (limited hours). Books will be on sale at the Apple Blossom Souvenir Store in the Apple Blossom Mall beginning April 3rd.
Special thanks to the generous financial support provided by Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®, Small Solutions, LLC., Stephens City Family Dentistry, Chick-fil-A, the YDC on behalf of Partlow Insurance, Animal Medical Center of Frederick County, and Bank of Clarke.
