Mansfield ISD Holds District Art Show

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Every year, the Fine Arts Program at Mansfield ISD hosts an Art Show at the Mansfield ISD Center for the Performing Arts. This year, student artwork was displayed from April 11th - 18th.

The art show is free and open to the public to view. Teachers from all campuses chose 10 pieces from each grade level or class to be entered into the showcase.

“We feel participation in a district-wide art show is very important so all of our kids can see the talent that we have across the district,” said Dr. Chuck Roe, MISD Assistant Director of Fine Arts. “They can see other students’ work. They can see other teachers’ styles of art. They get to show off their work and have a good time.”

The artwork includes drawings, paintings and sculptures created in art classes throughout the school year.

"I like art because I can express myself,” said Jazmine Johnson, an eighth-grader at Brooks Wester Middle School. “Art makes me feel great so I can fit in with my other classmates and other artists.”

The goal in hosting the event is for the district to be able to emphasize the importance of fine arts in schools.

"Fine Arts for our students whether its art, dance, theatre or music provides our students with the opportunity to express themselves creatively,” said Roe. “It also helps them really create connections to other curricular areas. Studies have shown that students that participate in Fine Arts score better in language arts, writing and math.”

For more information on the Mansfield ISD’s fine art program, click here.

MISD Student Uses Hospital Stay to Help Others

The displayed piece is titled "Pop Stars."

When Zoie Taylor told her mom that her stomach hurt, none of them realized how serious the problem was.

The two went to the hospital as a precaution, but Zoie was admitted for a full week. It turned out the severe abdominal pain was caused from inflammation in her colon. Doctors said she had hypersensitive nerves in her stomach.

While recovering in the hospital, the J.L. Boren Elementary School student did what she does best to pass the time—draw.

“She drew everyone pictures,” Heidi Taylor, Zoie’s mother, recalled. “She would give them to anyone who wanted one. It’s something she has loved to do since she was little.”

The hospital staff at Cook Children’s Medical Center took notice of the third-grader’s art. They were so impressed that they decided to hang up a drawing in one of the hallways.

“It feels amazing to have my artwork on the wall,” the eight-year-old said with a grin. “I wanted to inspire other kids so they can be happy and not sad.”

Zoie was thrilled to have her drawings featured.

Zoie’s art pieces were recently featured at a charity auction for the medical facility. She received five-star treatment and got to ride in a limo to the event, which was hosted by Texas Christian University’s Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

“Three of my drawings sold,” said Zoie. “And I met a very nice lady who bought one of my drawings and then gave me the pearl necklace she was wearing.”

To show her appreciation for a hospital staff and community that she said has given her so much, Zoie gave back by bringing a big box of art supplies to the hospital for other young patients to use.

“I was using the hospital’s art supplies when I was there, and I wanted to make sure that there would still be some for the other kids,” she explained.

“She has such a big heart, and I’m just proud of her,” her mom said.

Zoie’s drawings will be rotated throughout Cook Children’s Medical Center so that patients and visitors from various wards will be able to view it.