As the school year nears its end, Neshaminy School District, particularly its art department, has the opportunity to showcase months of hard work and imaginative achievement in one grand exhibition.
On May 20 and 21, paintings, posters, ceramics, animations, and more will be displayed in Gym 1 of Neshaminy High School (NHS). Students from all across the Neshaminy School District (NSD), along with their friends and family, have an exclusive opportunity to experience the passion, dedication, and creativity of their peers firsthand.
This longstanding tradition began during the 1988-1989 school year, highlighting various artistic pieces across all grade levels. Over the years, as this tradition has been upheld, much has evolved in order to make the art show that we know today.
And this year’s exhibit is expected to draw a significant number of visitors. In a recent survey conducted by Neshaminy High School students, 34.1% of the students polled stated they planned to attend this year’s district art show, either during or outside of school hours, representing a substantial portion of the student body.
A donut chart illustrating the percentage of students planning to attend the 2026 showcase (Carly Bogansky/The Playwickian)
Historical Point of View
This year marks the 39th annual art show, with the event maturing alongside its participants. With each passing year, the show has gone through many different iterations, directions, and creative approaches. Just as onlookers can see a student’s growth from elementary school to high school, they can also see the show’s transformation.
It’s these new additions to the show that keep Dr. Stacy Potter, the art show’s chairperson for 15 years, so invested in the exhibition and motivated to continue it year after year.
“I’ve seen this art show really transition many times,” Dr. Potter expressed. “I feel like the committees over the years have come up with such great ideas.”
When Dr. Potter got involved with the show, the committee incorporated plants into the show’s layout. Then, noticing how time-consuming transporting the plants from place to place was, she made the decision to bring in bands when she became chairperson. Visitors would now be able to view different forms of visual artwork while simultaneously experiencing live music, blending the art forms into one.
After that, when Dr. Potter briefly stepped away from chairing and Justin Bursk, a Neshaminy art teacher, took over, photo booths were added to the event, adding an interactive element for friends, families, and students in the show to enjoy.
“It’s not that families are just coming and just looking,” Dr. Potter elaborated. “They’re actually interacting with the artwork while they’re here, so it’s fun.”
Competitions
If you’re viewing this event from an art student’s perspective, one question likely comes to mind: “How does my work get selected?”
There are several different ways for students to have their work displayed in the show. One common way is to have your creation hand-picked by your teacher. Neshaminy’s art educators are tasked with reviewing each of their students’ work and selecting those they feel are best suited for the exhibit.
It’s important to note that the opportunity to be featured is not limited to a select number of students. Of the students polled, over 70% reported having had a piece displayed at some point in their school career.
Bar graph depicting the number of students who stated they have had a piece entered in the district art show (Carly Bogansky/The Playwickian)
Another common way for entrants to be featured is through competition. Every year, a special promotional poster contest is held to promote the show, with students all across the district being given the chance to design a poster that advertises the event. Then, a winner is picked from the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
The committee judges the posters based on their design, ability to be printed, and then handpicks which ones would best represent the district art show, with the winners being presented at the opening ceremony and given prizes.
“It’s a really big, fun event, and the kids are really excited,” Dr. Potter shared.
This year’s winners of the poster contest are Giorgi Tamoyan, a high school junior, Anuska Tailor, an eighth grader, and Violetta Pstyga, a third grader.
Recently, in addition to the poster contest, the committee has reinstated a T-Shirt design competition from previous years. Similar to the poster contest, all the schools are given a chance to win, with a winner being picked from one of NSD’s elementary, middle, and high schools.
However, unlike past years, when this contest helped raise money for the show, the T-Shirt sales this year will be nonprofit, since the additional funds are no longer necessary.
When discussing the allure of the contest, Dr. Potter explained that the contest is meant to give artists recognition among their peers.
Although the winners of the contest won’t be officially announced until the opening ceremony, each student has already been notified of their selection.
Impact
Art, at its core, is completely subjective, meaning the pieces displayed at the exhibition will have vastly different effects on different viewers. A work that resonates deeply with one person may hold a completely different meaning to another. However, for the artists themselves, personal connection to their work is often more important than outside interpretation.
When a student’s artwork is chosen for the art show, it provides them with a strong sense of pride and accomplishment. Not only have they successfully expressed their feelings in a physical form, but they are also given the opportunity to communicate those same feelings with others.
The positive reaction of those who encounter their work is reflected in students’ feedback. 97.2% of students who attended the district art show rated it between a three and a five out of five, and only two respondents rated it below a three.
A bar graph displaying students’ opinion of their experience visiting the art show (Veronika Kamysheva/The Playwickian)
These moments of recognition are the result of the very selection processes that make being selected feel so meaningful, no matter how many times they may have made it into the art show. Whether selected by a teacher or a contest, each piece reflects a moment in the artist’s growth. In that sense, past art pieces can act as time capsules, capturing exactly who the artist was at the time they made it.
However, no one appreciates the emotional aspects of the art show more than the high school’s graduating seniors. Over the years, the students have had the opportunity to showcase their artwork, but as their high school careers reach an end, it can be emotional to display their work for the last time.
“I believe it’s a reflection of how well I do in my classes… so I love it when people are able to see that,” Sydney Murphy, a 12th-grade Neshaminy art student, expressed.
This year, several of Neshaminy’s seniors have their own panels that showcase an array of their different artworks. This gives visitors the ability to get to know the artist as an individual in addition to feeling the emotion portrayed in their artwork.
“I feel like my work was actually for something, and it’s being represented for something good,” Ava Kendig, a 12th-grade Neshaminy art student, shared.
