Lincoln Elementary recently hosted a Family Art Making Night. It was a tremendous success. Though we didn’t attend in person, we had the opportunity to converse with Cassi Lemonidis, the art teacher and creator, about herself and the event a few days later.
How long have you been in education?
Six years teaching art. This is my fifth year at Lincoln.
What inspired you to become an art educator?
I was inspired to become an art teacher through my background in studying art and my original goal of pursuing it as a career. While that path wasn’t sustainable for me, my love for working with children led me to teaching.
I believe it’s important for students to explore different mediums and discover their creativity. I see it as my responsibility to help them develop a lasting appreciation for art.
By the end of a school year, what do you hope your art students take with them?
A love of art, confidence in self-expression, and the understanding that art doesn’t have to be perfect. I hope they discover one or two mediums they enjoy by trying a variety of styles and materials.
What type/genre/medium is your favorite?
Abstract art. It allows for the most creative thinking and shows students they don’t have to draw realistically to be successful.
Which one have you seen the majority of students gravitating towards?
Students often gravitate toward abstract art because it feels less pressured and allows them to feel successful and confident in their creativity.
They also absolutely love weaving and anything involving yarn because it is so hands-on, tactile, and engaging for them.
Why do you think that is, given today’s culture?
With the amount of testing and screen time students experience both in school and at home, even at a young age, many are feeling increased pressure.
Art provides a space where they can be creative, make their own choices, and feel a sense of success. It offers a much-needed balance and allows them to express themselves in a more relaxed, hands-on way.
Tell us about the Family Art Making Night you just had.
I host an annual art show, and for the past two years, I’ve expanded it to include a Family Art Making Night. Each student has both a 2D and 3D piece on display—nearly 1,000 pieces in total—with student-created titles and a small artist photo to create an authentic gallery experience and show that their work is truly valued.
I added the family art-making component to bring people together to create, connect, and spend quality time with friends and family. This year featured a variety of activities, including eight spring-themed drawings, coloring sheets, sticker design, scratch art, bookmarks, and more—it’s always incredible to see the community come together through art.
What was the highlight for your students, from your perspective?
Seeing how excited students and families were to create and share artwork together was wonderful.
The biggest highlight, for students, seemed to be seeing their artwork displayed and being able to share it with their family and friends. Knowing their work was valued in a gallery-style setting made them incredibly proud. They also really enjoyed creating art together and being part of such a positive, creative community experience.
That’s when we asked for a quote from a student’s perspective.
My favorite part of the art show was everything! It was nice to see my art hanging up. It made me feel proud. -2nd-grade student
And then, the inevitable question after you’ve had a big success…
What would you do differently?
Next year I’d like to add a theme and include even more small art projects. We had a lot, but they went quickly—which is a great problem to have.
Having completed the initial questions, we asked a few more. Namely, how many people did she think were in attendance? She told us that she had hundreds of small art projects, and there were so many people that she ran out of them. That’s quite a few people for a school function, after hours.
No doubt the Lincoln Family Art Making Night will continue to be a highlight of the school year for these talented young people and those who come after. And Cassi can rest assured that she has made her principal, Ann Rushing, proud.
