California art expo continued to exceed expectations
CALIFORNIA – Music spilled into the street from the open windows of Jozart Studio at the corner of Second and Wood streets Saturday, with more entertainment on the schedule for today. The second floor studio is hosting the second annual California Area Cultural Arts Exposition, which organizers said has far exceeded their expectations.
More than 600 pieces of student art were submitted to the exposition this year, and 10 area musicians or bands took the stage Saturday for a six-hour-long free concert. More music will be heard today, including selections by several student musicians, and two teams of four students each will show off their knowledge of local history as they compete for savings bonds.
The number of art pieces that California Area School District students submitted to the exposition nearly tripled since last year, the first year of the expo.
“I just can’t believe it. When we started putting this together, I couldn’t imagine where we were going to put everything. The kids sure put a lot of work into the art,” said Lewis Crumrine of the California Area Optimist Club, which sponsored the event.
Most of the artwork is displayed on large wood panels throughout Jozart Studio. Chairs and couches offer relaxed seating for the musical and performing arts programs. The talents of one young man were presented on a long table featuring several computers to showcase his award-winning PowerPoint programs and Web sites.
Myles Nickolich, a junior at California Area High School, used the computers to display his Civil War program, which is the current Pennsylvania PowerPoint champion from the Pennsylvania Computer Science Fair, and a cancer education program that won a regional competition.
“I’m donating it to Mon Valley Hospital,” Nickolich said.
California Borough native Todd Edwards was the first musician to take the stage Saturday, playing acoustic guitar and harmonica to accompany his original songs. Edwards, a 1994 graduate of California Area High School, began performing about 21/2 years ago, starting out at the open mike nights at Jozart Studio. His second CD will come out this summer. He is also a computer science teacher at Steel Center Area Vocational-Technical School.
It was Edwards’ second year to participate in the expo. Musical duo The Klick heard about the expo through a flyer and contacted organizer Roger Sealy to ask to perform.
“This is the first time we’ve actually played in California. We just love to play music,” said guitarist Jeff School.
California Area School District Superintendent Dr. Tim Marks, who moved into the district after last year’s expo, was impressed with the exhibit.
“It will continue to grow. California doesn’t really have an event of its own. It’s nice to have one dedicated to the arts,” Marks said.
The festival will continue today from noon to 6 p.m.