MADRAS, OR -- While many schools are cutting art programs, Jefferson County Middle School is rebuilding. It's a process that started last fall, with the hiring of art teacher Eliza Raines. "I’m the first certified art position that they’ve had, for a minute," she tells KBND News. Raines believes that certification makes a big difference for the kids, "Because I’m not only a teacher, but I’m also an artist. So, I understand the struggles that they’re going through with their creativity, with building their skillset. I also understand the mediums and how each different art medium works."

Raines says she began with the basics, by meeting kids where they're at, "It’s interesting to see how as the year has gone on, they’ve really been building on their knowledge. They will pull in aspects from old projects that we’ve been doing into new projects now." She adds, "A huge part of what I try to do in the art rooms is to show students that art is for everyone, and that art can be almost anything. We get so stuck thinking that it’s just painting or drawing or, you know, those really common mediums."

The effort culminates Wednesday, when JCMS hosts its first art show in 20 years, "Which is kind of like a Super Bowl for artists, where we pull together everything that we’ve been working on." Raines says more than 150 students are signed up to participate, "We’ve got drawings, we’ve got paintings, we’ve got sculptures that students have built. And we’re even seeing some showcases from other areas in the school. I know that our CTE and our STEM program have entered in a couple of admissions." The culinary class is also involved, with some delicious creations. 

Anticipation is building for the free public show. Raines says, "I’ve been talking with them about the community coming in to see their work and to really see who they are as artists and their creativity. And that has been both nerve racking for them and also exciting."

The JCMS student art show is Wednesday, April 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Awards will be presented at 6. The school is located at 1180 SE Kemper Way in Madras.