Riverview Elementary artist originals are on display at Dunn Bros.

• Photo: RVES aritsts

The artwork of these Riverview Elementary School fifth graders will be on display at Dunn Bros. starting Thursday, and continuing through January. The artwork was part of a special holiday card project that helps to raise extra funds for Riverview Elementary.

Talk about it

The champagne and cheese will be replaced by hot chocolate and Christmas cookies, but Dunn Bros. is gearing up for an art show opening Thursday night.

It’s not just any art show, either. This one features all local artists. All local, elementary school-aged artists, from Riverview Elementary School.

The young artists are all fifth grade students whose holiday artwork has been featured in the second annual RVES Holiday Card Fundraiser. Approximately 25 students designed artwork and came up with messages for holiday cards that were printed through the school’s art program.

The time to purchase the cards has already passed – those orders are taken earlier in the fall so RVES art teacher Paul Stanley knows how many need to be printed – but the artwork itself will be on display at Dunn Bros., starting Thursday evening.

Dunn Bros. owner David Hartnett is excited for the art exhibit opening, which he says will be just like a real opening, only a little different.

“We’re all for featuring that creativity,” Hartnett said. “And the medium is timely and festive for the season, which is the twist.”

RVES fifth grader Abbie Griffin is one of the students whose work will be on display. Griffin described her picture as a doughnut wearing a Santa hat, with the message “Have a sweet Christmas” on the inside.

“It’s kind of a simple card,” Griffin said, “I like doughnuts and I didn’t really know what else to do. And I’m not very good at drawing Santas.”

Billy Adamson’s drawing is a little more involved. Adamson likes to draw dragons, so his mom suggested he incorporate one into his card entry. His dragon is in a house that has a big present in the fire place, and a snowman is visible from the window. His message is, “Have a blazing Christmas.”

Both young artists are excited to know their artwork will be put up for others to see. Griffin plans to be at Thursday’s opening, but Adamson will be out of town, so he plans to check it out when they get back. The students have purchased several copies of their cards, too, and are sharing those with family and friends.

The opening will begin at 6 p.m., Thursday, but the artwork will be in place at Dunn Bros. for six to eight weeks, Hartnett said. It will be on display in the Community Corner of Dunn Bros.

Tags: school district 192, elementary schools, education, farmington