Brentwood's Art in the Park event showcases local talent

More than just art will be on display in the Brentwood Borough School District on May 15, as this year’s Art in the Park comes to life in the middle/high school cafeteria from 4 to 7 p.m.

Students from the high school communication classes will showcase videos they’ve produced, elementary students will show off origami work they created in the library, and members of the high school’s Formula 1 team Valkyrie will show how they race a miniature car that has qualified to compete internationally in Abu Dhabi.

The event also will feature the artwork of kindergartners through 12th-graders.

“The goal is to reach the community and to really bring in the community to see what’s going on in Brentwood,” said Barbara Girone, elementary art teacher.

Art in the Park started several years ago as a small event in the Brentwood Civic Center. Local bands played to round out the event.

Each year, it’s evolved into something bigger, Girone said.

There’s something for everyone, young and old.

Fifth-graders and the YMCA both will have hands-on tables for kids to do crafts and art.

Dinner can be purchased from The Nutrition Group, where everything from hamburger to chicken finger platters will be served.

Ten percent of their proceeds will go to Valkyrie to help with fundraising efforts.

The English Language Learner teacher will have information for families available.

The family of Domenick Henry, a Brentwood graduate who died of cancer, will have a bake sale to raise money for his memorial scholarship.

Alumni will return to the school to display their art. They include an airbrush artist, a jewelry sculpture, a graduate who has his own clothing brand and an art therapist.

Their participation will show current Brentwood students what they can do with art outside of school, Girone said.

Bringing all the grades together also gets the younger kids excited about their future in art and school.

“I love when my elementary kids come up and they’re excited to see their own work, but they’re really excited to see what the older kids have done,” she said.