After school on Thursday, the Gravette Schools District Art Show transformed the event hall at Ozark Community Hospital into an immersive celebration of student creativity. Guests entered through a warped mirror walkway, where square-shaped metallic balloons reflected their movements from every angle. In one corner, kids gathered around a polka-dot room display blinking with lights, its cardboard furniture—crafted by elementary artists—covered in bold, playful patterns. A mirror wall with disco balls offered an ideal backdrop for families snapping photos, while in the center of the show, an alleyway of four-sided pillars stood in perfect symmetry, each side showcasing carefully selected student artwork.
The Gravette Schools Art Show was a celebration of students’ creativity, boldness, and personal growth. This year’s event saw one of its largest turnouts yet, with families, teachers, and community members filling the hall to support student artists from kindergarten through high school.
"Seeing the kids whenever they find their artwork or their friends' artwork, remembering what they did in class, that’s the best part of hosting this show,” said Gravette Upper Elementary Art Teacher Morgan Knuckles. "And seeing some of my old students and the work they're making as they get older and improve, that's really rewarding."
For many students, art is more than an assignment. Learning creative skills helps them build confidence, think critically, and take pride in their accomplishments. This show gave young people the opportunity to see their work displayed in a public space, and proved that their ideas and hard work matter. While music performances and sporting events provide some students with that outlet, the art show ensures that young visual artists receive the same level of encouragement and recognition.
"Watching the kids come in with their families and be so proud to show their work—that's part of being an artist,” shared Brandi Brown, Art Teacher at Glenn Duffy Elementary, “It’s really exciting to see how proud they are to share it with their families and the community."
A student proudly shows off some of her sketches to Brandi Brown, Art Teacher at Glenn A. Duffy Elementary
The Gravette Schools Art Show began four years ago as a small K-2 event held at the Gravette Civic Center. In her first year as a teacher, Brandi Brown helped establish the art show tradition. Over time, it expanded to include all grade levels, moving to a larger venue at the Event Center at Ozark Community Hospital, where it now draws one of the district’s largest community turnouts.
Previous themes included "I Am," which focused on character words and self-portraits, and "Neon," where students created glowing artwork displayed under black lights. As the show expanded, it provided students with more creative freedom. This year’s show had a playful twist, featuring vibrant colors, repeated patterns, and interactive elements that encouraged visitor participation.
The inspiration for the theme this year came from an artist whose work blends simplicity with precision, playfulness with discipline, and structure with boundless imagination, the world-famous Yayoi Kusama. Some students had the chance earlier this year to see her highly valued art displayed in Northwest Arkansas’ own Crystal Bridges art museum in Bentonville. Younger students were drawn to her bold colors and whimsical patterns, while older students connected with the complexity of her techniques and underlying themes of repetition and infinity.
A student's family admire the Kusama-inspired artwork created by Gravette's young artists
Elementary students recreated Kusama’s signature polka-dot patterns, while others took inspiration from her designs in a more personalized direction. Mrs. Knuckles explained, "Some students used Kusama’s Infinity Nets as a backdrop, similar to how she often painted flowers, pumpkins, and mushrooms. Stuff from her life and childhood. They adopted the style but chose subjects that were personal to them like a dog, food, or makeup."
The theme introduced students to a renowned artist and her techniques, but following the theme was entirely optional. Students were free to create in any style or direction they chose, and some of those creations sparked big reactions from their peers.
One student was thrilled to spot symbols from the anime One Piece, younger kids laughed at SpongeBob-inspired drawings, and others proudly posed for photos beside Minecraft sculptures, superhero sketches, and American flag illustrations. A group of four elementary-age boys jumped up and down in excitement at a middle schooler’s colored-pencil sketch of Dr. Doom from Marvel Comics.
"As a teacher, I have no idea who that character is, but I know that it's important to the student and to others, so that makes me happy," said Gravette Middle School Art Teacher Haleigh Hull-Folker. "If they’re excited about it and it’s school-appropriate, I love seeing it."
Whether experimenting with new techniques, drawing from personal interests, or simply seeing their work displayed for the first time, students experienced the power of creativity in a way that reached beyond the classroom walls. Every surface of the space was covered in imagery that came straight from the imaginations of the future generation.
"I think what’s most rewarding is seeing students realize their work is worth being displayed," said High School Art Teacher Mollie Hendrick. "A lot of them don’t see themselves as ‘artists,’ but when they walk in and see their piece hanging up, it changes how they view their own abilities."
"All of the students are very proud of their work when they see people pointing at their paintings and reacting, like, ‘Oh my goodness, people actually appreciate this!’" added Middle School Art Teacher Sybella Ifland. "And we're like, ‘We've been telling you this the entire time!’"
Above all, this year’s show demonstrated that art connects people. Families, teachers, and community members filled the event space, not just to admire student work, but to show their support for the young artists behind it.
School Board President Chris Flynt and Board Member Matt Croxdale were among those in attendance, along with Superintendent Jeff Gravette and Assistant Superintendent Rebecca Andrews. Principals, support staff, food services, coaches, and teachers wandered the space, admiring the work and connecting with students and parents. Even Technology Director Daniel Rice took time to appreciate the displays. Their presence was a strong reminder that art is an essential part of education.
"I think it's really exciting to see the community come out to see the students' work and for their families to come see it. It shows the students that we value what they're doing," said Hull-Folker.
Mr. Gravette admiring student artwork while Upper Elementary Art Teacher Morgan Knuckles points out specific pieces to Assistant Superintendent Rebecca Andrews
As the event grows year after year, so does its impact. With students, families, and the community coming together to celebrate art, hard work, and creative expression, the show has become a cornerstone event for Gravette Schools.
The success of this year’s show would not have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of the district’s art teachers, who worked tirelessly to encourage creativity in Gravette students and bring this vision to life. A special thank you also goes to Ozark Community Hospital for providing a space that allowed students’ creativity to shine.
Most importantly, the Gravette school community deserves appreciation for showing up, encouraging young artists, and proving once again that support for students extends far beyond the classroom.
