Hues and Harmony celebrates Hampton art, music

Guests at opening night for Hues and Harmony who were born, say, during the Kennedy administration couldn’t help but think:

They didn’t do this when I was a kid!

In hallway after hallway, room after room, Hampton High School served as a gallery for artwork by district students in kindergarten through 12th grade, displaying their talents in a variety of media as the “Hues” part of the event’s theme.

Providing the “Harmony” component were musicians, starting with the middle school and high school jazz bands playing sets in the cafeteria. Shortly afterward, it was everyone’s turn: Guests had the opportunity to create their own “found sounds” instruments and participate in a drum circle.

Scheduled for March 5 and 6, the event returned to its traditional two-night format for the first time since before the covid-19 pandemic, celebrating the twin designation of Music In Our Schools Month and Youth Art Month.

Other musicians performing for Hues and Harmony were students the Talbot Chamber Orchestra, Poff Elementary woodwind and percussion ensemble, high school honors orchestra and concert choir, and solo pianists.

Visual arts activities included T-shirt screen printing, make-your-own origami, pottery demonstrations and a scavenger hunt around the school.

Organizing and coordinating Hues and Harmony represented a Herculean effort, as one guest told art teacher Lisa Woods. So kudos to her and fellow art instructors Ted Brucker, Dan Franklin, Elizabeth Howe, Kelly Koble and Kate Owens, along with music teachers Laura Arledge, Kristin Bumblis, Sean Desguin, Heather Heere, Shannon Hetrick, Chad Himmler, Mary Magdic, Ryan Meyer and Amy Stepson,

What they accomplished on behalf of the Hampton Township School District Community … well, you probably didn’t exactly see anything like that back in the ’60s and ’70s.