On May 10th, 2014, Williston will be participating in May’s Art Walk Easthampton, a monthly event from 5-8pm through downtown Easthampton. These Art Walks occur on the second Saturday of each month. Exhibits and performances of local art and artists are located in local galleries and stores. The theme of this particular walk is Class Act: Easthampton Schools Exhibit.

“Williston has been holding the ‘Williston Art Walk’ at the end of each trimester starting this year. However, Williston has never participated in the Easthampton Art Walk until now,” says Gabriel Jacobson ’15, curator of the exhibit, [SHOWCASE].  [SHOWCASE] will be in Suite 136 on the first floor of Eastworks with two storefronts to display the artwork in.

Jacobson says, “If art was an all year sports season then this would be the playoffs,” and is encouraging the Williston community to come support their fellow artists. Jacobson will have at least one painting in the show.

Roughly twenty-five Williston students will be exhibiting their art and the number of pieces of art varies from one to ten for each artist. “I couldn’t let this opportunity pass our community by,” said Jacobson. He believes this show, “is a major step in Williston’s greater Easthampton community outreach ambitions.” In addition to showing their art, students will have a chance to sell what they have created.

Participating artist Emily Yeager ’17 will have fourteen photographs in [SHOWCASE]. Yeager says, “I decided that I wanted to take this opportunity because it was unique, interesting, and something that many people do not get the chance to participate in.”

In addition to photographs, “All different mediums and styles are included in this show, a testament to the range and diversity of our artists,” says Jacobson.

Michael Thompson ’14 is a artist who uses oil paint to create abstract and expressionist pieces. Thompson will display six paintings in the show because he thinks it would be, “interesting to have my work shown somewhere outside of Williston alongside my peers.”

Brenna Quirk ’15 will be submitting a pen and ink piece created of nine smaller pieces. Quirk says, “This show is allowing me to try something new with my art and present it to a new audience.”

Other events during the May 10th 2014 art walk include the Easthampton High School Arts Festival of student artists at Old Town Hall, the Elementary and Middle School art show with work from K-8th grade students at Eastworks, and the Annual Student Art Exhibit from the Academy Hill School at Eastworks. At White Square Books, local musician John Allen will be reading from his work “Marmite Cowboy”. Eastworks will also hold a yoyo performance by experts Andre Boulay and Eric Dietz, and a kid’s art studio station of Spray Paint Art Simply Art Studio. In addition, Mt. Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream will be holding a show of owner Jim Ingram’s photographs in honor of their 10th anniversary of opening, according to the Easthampton City Art’s website.