Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® and the Sherando High School Art Department have once again partnered up to create the third annual Festival-inspired coloring book. It highlights popular Apple Blossom events, including a few new ones, highlighting the first comedy show event and flying circus air show! SHS art teacher, Jillian Legge, shared that, “This project has become a fun way for the students to interact with the community and to become more involved in the Festival. The students have been able to express themselves through creating their pages, as well as being involved in the marketing and sponsorship process as well. They have really taken ownership over this project and it is exciting to see how proud they are of their work. We are excited to be able to offer the book to any Apple Blossom 10K or Bloomin Mile runner at a discounted rate as part of their registration for the race! We are so grateful for the support of the Apple Blossom Festival throughout this project and all they do for the local schools.” Last year, the high school art department was able to use the funds that were raised to purchase a new sketchbook binding machine for the students to create their own sketchbooks, pottery supplies, good quality materials for our advanced placement art students, and materials to help with our art show. With the funds raised this year, the art department is hoping to purchase more high quality supplies, materials for our new 3D art course, and to be able to fund one or more interactive field trips to expose our students to the art culture. 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.
New to the art department this year, 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. "It has been so much fun to work with the young artists at Sherando to create this unique and collaborative project! Students really got the chance to see an art project through from ideation to final product and had the opportunity to work with peers and teachers along the way. I am honored to be a part of this tradition at Sherando High School!"
Involving school participation has been an integral part of the Festival since its inception. High school bands have marched in our parades, showcasing their musical talents. Many students have participated in the Bloomin Mile race and countless students have attended the carnival and midway. The coloring book project reveals the incredible artistic talents and shows the connections each student has personally had with the Festival. SHS senior, Adriana Settle, the creator of this year’s cover, shared, “I had a lot of fun creating the cover and hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I did!”
Another senior at SHS, Keylin Lopez Monje, created the Stonebrook Country Club Tennis Tournament page and after asking her about her work, she stated, “I really enjoy playing tennis, so I wanted to create a page that I had a connection to. Last year I created the Fiesta Latina page and really took pride in creating that page because of my Latin American heritage. It has been a lot of fun to be a part of this project!”
One of the events new to the Festival this year, the comedy show, was featured by SHS sophomore, Alyssa Corbett, and when asked about her work, she said, “It was a relatively difficult process to capture the perspective of the comedians that I chose for this page. The challenge was worth it in the end because I’m proud of the way it turned out.”
Twenty-seven Sherando High School artists, ranging from freshman to seniors, participated in creating the book, showcasing events that were highlighted last year, along with new events, such as the Winchester Regional Airport’s Flying Circus and Air Show and the Comedy Show. Nine of the artists involved in the book are seniors, and when they were asked about contributing to something that they may not personally get to experience the benefits of, they all stated that they were happy to support the department and pass on a better environment for the next generation. They were able to benefit from the new light tables, pottery wheels, field trips and better supplies from the two previous fundraisers so they felt that they wanted to pay it forward to the students coming after them.
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, 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 5th. There will also be an opportunity to purchase the book at a discounted rate as part of the registration for the Apple Blossom 10K and the Bloomin Mile.
Special thanks to the generous financial support provided by Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®, Small Solutions, LLC., Stephens City Family Dentistry, Chick-fil-A, On the Road Driving School, Winchester Regional Airport, and Bank of Clarke.
