Halls of song and art

Down the hallways of Soldotna Elementary School on Thursday, artwork filled the walls and students performed on a variety of instruments for a combined art show and band fundraiser.

Kindergarten teacher AnnMarie Rudstrom said the program marked the end of an artist-in-residence program hosted at the school, where she and another kindergarten teacher, Katrina Cannava, cycled through all of the school’s classrooms to complete an art project.

Those works made up the centerpiece of the art show, in the school’s lobby — an array of art prints with varied subject matter. Each class had their works displayed together, images etched from vibrant color backgrounds that depicted ice cream cones, holiday scenes, the video game Among Us and more.

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The works offer detailed designs and abstract ideas, Rudstrom said, and they used a print process where students put ink to paper and pressed out their designs for a “magical” reveal of the finished project.

“They had so much fun doing it,” she said.

Down either hallway of the school were more works of student art from each classroom — even more varied. Alongside those displays were student performers on instruments from keyboards to guitars and even a bass clarinet. Each was busking for tickets, the fundraising element of the show. Attendees passing by dropped tickets purchased by the front door like they would tip a street performer, and the school posted on Facebook that they turned out $1,400 for the school’s music programs.

Leslie Blanning, with the school’s parent teacher organization, said the event was an opportunity to bring the community into SoEl to see and to celebrate the work that students are doing. Before venturing down the hallways to see the diversity of artistry on display, she said, someone might not realize just how much art SoEl’s students are creating.

For more information, find “Soldotna Elementary” on Facebook.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Artwork by Soldotna Elementary School students is displayed during an art show and music fundraiser at Soldotna Elementary School in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna Elementary School students perform in the halls during an art show and music fundraiser at Soldotna Elementary School in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)