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<p>PLYMOUTH &#8212; The Wyoming Valley West High School was filled with color and sound last week during an &#8220;Artigras&#8221; festival that brought together students, family members and the community.</p><p>To art teacher Mary Mattern and her students, it was a labor of love.</p><p>Mattern is proud of the students&#8217; efforts in replicating more than 60 pieces of art entitled &#8220;The Migration Series.&#8221;</p><p>The series, completed by Jacob Lawrence in the early 1940s, includes artwork and text putting each offering in perspective.</p><p>David Miller, whose daughter, Olivia, had several pieces of art in the show, said it was a wonderful opportunity to bring together history and art.</p><p>&#8220;Even if your eye is first drawn to the art you are learning as you view each individual piece,&#8221; he said.</p><p>As Miller and his wife, Barbara, made their way through the show, they enjoyed both traditional and trendy. Olivia, tended toward the unexpected in her art, developing layers of texture and color on the canvas.</p><p>Junior Madeline Delarche, who said she had a more traditional style, displayed an interpretation of a street in Japan.</p><p>&#8220;It was my first very realistic work,&#8221; she said, describing it as &#8220;satisfying and frustrating.&#8221;</p><p>The students presented non-traditional collages which layered scenes on canvas.</p><p>As Mattern looked at those gathered to celebrate the efforts of student artists, she said the year was a significant one.</p><p>&#8220;The students had a deep connection to the art on a deeper level,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Senior Alyssa Simmers said the project demonstrated how much hard work good art requires, describing the work as &#8220;daring&#8221; and &#8220;daunting.&#8221;</p><p>Kaley Ellard, Plymouth, is especially proud of a very realistic painting she did of a gyro, with each element looking nearly edible.</p><p>Ellard was prompted by the theme of National Gyro Day.</p><p>Alejandro Ramos, Edwardsville, when prompted by the use of a map, automatically thought of pizza.</p><p>He placed an artistic rendering of himself over a dozen area pizza places which he has had the pleasure of visiting.</p><p>Senior Logan Rock said the event reflected the school&#8217;s emphasis on the arts.</p><p>&#8220;Sports are important,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But the school encourages every student in whatever special talent they have.&#8221;</p><p>Musical performances by the high school&#8217;s jazz band, orchestra and chorus rounded out the event, with fair skies providing attendees the pleasure of gathering outside on the concourse as they listened.</p><p>Mattern said the students worked consistently for months, first choosing a project they would call their own, and then diligently completing it.</p><p>Occasionally, however, they would run out of steam.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s when, we ate pizza,&#8221; said a smiling Mattern.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Junior Madeline Delarche takes an opportunity to explain artwork seen in Wyoming Valley West High School&#8217;s &#8220;Artigras&#8221; to Sophomore Joe Konopke. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_art1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Junior Madeline Delarche takes an opportunity to explain artwork seen in Wyoming Valley West High School&#8217;s &#8220;Artigras&#8221; to Sophomore Joe Konopke. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_art2-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_art2-2.jpg</photo1><caption1></caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_art3-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Students, parents and members of the community file though &#8220;Artigras&#8221; at Wyoming Valley West High School. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_art3-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Students, parents and members of the community file though &#8220;Artigras&#8221; at Wyoming Valley West High School. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_art4-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West High School orchestra performs at a Wyoming Valley West &#8220;Artigras&#8221; event last week. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_art4-2.jpg</photo3><caption3>Wyoming Valley West High School orchestra performs at a Wyoming Valley West &#8220;Artigras&#8221; event last week. </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_art5-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Student artist Olivia Miller&#8217;s parents, David and Barbara, and grandmother Lillian Royal, enjoy artwork at &#8220;Artigras&#8221; at Wyoming Valley West High School last week. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_art5-2.jpg</photo4><caption4>Student artist Olivia Miller&#8217;s parents, David and Barbara, and grandmother Lillian Royal, enjoy artwork at &#8220;Artigras&#8221; at Wyoming Valley West High School last week. </caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_extra-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Submitted by Olivia Miller </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_extra-2.jpg</photo5><caption5>Submitted by Olivia Miller </caption5><photoCredit5></photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

WVW celebrates art, history with Artigras event