'LOOK AT THAT!'—Third graders Emily Wright and Amber O'Toole, both 8, enjoy their classmates' creations during the show, which was organized by the Big Springs PTA. Kimberley O'Toole already has a wall in her home covered with her three daughters' artwork.

But last Thursday, her daughters—triplets Ashley, Allison and Amber—and their classmates got to share their artwork with a much wider audience thanks to the Big Springs Elementary School student art show. The third-graders made paintings of bridges over lily pads.

Members of the school's PTA organized the show, purchasing frames through the company KidsArt Fairs.

At the show, parents had the opportunity to purchase their child's framed creation. If parents didn't want to buy the frame, they could still keep the art.

"It's very cool for the kids," said O'Toole, who bought a framed piece by her son Ryan, a fourth-grader. "The kids love art."

Laurie Hoffman, Big Springs PTA programs vice president, said the PTA was pleased to bring art back into the classroom when budget restrictions have undermined such programs.

Photos by WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers SHOW OFF—Big Springs Elementary first-grader Abbey Hampton, 6, poses next to a piece of artwork she created so her teacher Nancy Bishay can get a photo at the Nov. 13 Big Springs student art show. "The schools don't have as much time to teach art—there's not enough time to incorporate art into daily lessons," Hoffman said.

The art show project took about a month and a half to prepare.

The PTA framed the students' artwork and in some cases attended classes to teach ageappropriate projects. Students used crayons, watercolors, oil pastels and colored pencils.

"It's unique; it's cool. It's great when they're framed, too," said parent John McFarland, who was looking for his firstgrade daughter Victoria's piece in the crowded cafeteria.

Sarah Abbott, a second-grader, and her mother, Susan, wandered up and down the aisles looking for Sarah's purple flower.

"It's nice to have a fundraiser where you don't buy something you eat," Susan Abbott said. "I think it's incredibly important for kids to do art, and I wish they did more."

Joel Mejia was more than happy to buy framed artwork by his daughter, Stephanie, a thirdgrader at Big Springs.

"She likes the art, and that's great," Mejia said.

The show coincided with a Reflections display in the back of the cafeteria.

Reflections is a PTA-sponsored national arts competition for students that accepts entries of literature, visual art, photography, dance and music. The Reflections projects of nine Big Springs students have advanced to the county finals.

This year, 37 Big Springs students turned in Reflections pieces; 20 turned in projects in 2007.

"We want to get kids excited about art," said Becky Wright, a PTA member who's in charge of organizing Reflections at the school.

On a hectic day that included an earthquake drill, Principal Beverly Radloff had time to enjoy the art show.

"This was a very well-planned event by the PTA," Radloff said. "The PTA here is very active and supportive."