Pictures drawn on the page of a dictionary, line drawings of pickles and people and colorful, intricate mandala are part of the artwork at the 2014 Pike Liberal Arts School Art Show.

And the school’s art show is all that and much more, said Ceil Sikes, PLAS headmaster.

“Pike Liberal Arts … arts,” Sikes said. “The arts are a large part of who we are. We have to address the arts. And, we continually expand the arts because, in the arts, we have a base of untapped talent. We want to identify that talent and develop it.”

PLAS has two art teachers and Sikes said they are taking the school’s art program in the right direction.

Charlotte Walden teaches art in the middle and high school grades and Carol Goff is the elementary school art teacher.

“The 2014 PLAS Art Show is an indication of the outstanding job they are doing and the interest our students have in art,” Sikes said. “All of the artwork was very good. The first and second place winners will represent Pike Liberal Arts well at the district art show. Hopefully, we’ll have winners at district and representatives at the AISA State Art Show.”

Walden said she was extremely pleased with all the entries in the school’s 2014 art show.

“We had entries in all categories – including non-color drawing, added color drawing, 3D, collage, mixed media, painting and photography. The entries were very good and I’m sure it was difficult for the judge to select the top three in each category.”

The third place winners and those who received honorable mention will show their artwork at TroyFest the last weekend in April.

“There’s also the possibility that the artwork on display at the district show will be back in time for TroyFest,” Walden said. “The students at Pike Liberal Arts have a growing interest in art and we plan to expand our art programs. I also teach a humanities class and include art in it.”

Walden’s humanities class constructed a paper mache elephant and painted it in bold, bright colors.

“The elephant was a group project,” she said. “The students made it from paper, wood, tape and paste. They’ve grown attached to the elephant and are not sure they want to auction it or sell it.”

Walden said it is exciting to see students apply their knowledge and ideas to art.

“And, it’s even more exciting when the students are excited about art,” she said.