Running through the hallways of North Penn School District’s schools are streams of students that course with diversity, and Knight of the Arts is a unique showcase of the many means of expression for the culture, artistic abilities, and creativity of the student body. North Penn High School becomes a host to a variety of mediums, including paintings, sketches, sculptures, animations, photographs, digital graphic design, music, collage; the artists range from the district’s kindergarten classes to high school students. It’s a culmination of a year’s worth of hard work by the extensive art programs at North Penn, putting on display the skills honed in over the trajectory of the class.
“It’s cool because we’re showcasing everyone’s abilities and we’ve got all grade levels. You just walk through the halls and see what everyone is able to create and think, ‘I can do that too,’” said Hayley Moylan, a North Penn Digital Photo student, helping to run the sales of t-shirts, keychains, pins, stickers, and fidget toys, all made by students to benefit and fund North Penn’s art programs.
While showcasing the skills of individual students, Knight of the Arts also showcases the vast variety of electives that are open to students, putting on display the hard work done within the department and opening up examples of future opportunities and encouraging students to try their hand at them. Students also got to see hands-on experiences through live demonstrations, including sculpting, throwing clay on the wheel, and sketching, motivating the community to recognize its possible for anybody to create their own art.
“As a community event for North Penn as a whole, it’s great for the little kids to see high school groups and for high schoolers to be able to see the younger groups; we get to see what we were, and they get to see what they’re going to become in a couple of years,” said Travis Ely, a member of the North Penn Navy Jazz Band performing at the art show.
From high school seniors already on track to pursue art in their futures to elementary school students just beginning to experiment, even down to their parents and the local community, the art show provides an eye-opening and inspiring experience for all in attendance.
“I felt really excited about it. This is my 2nd year getting some of my clay stuff in the event and I feel like I’m really good at it. I mainly do it because I actually really like to draw and I like being an artist in my free time,” said Knapp elementary school student Miles Vercher, who had his own art on display.
“I can’t believe all of the talent. We come for the pottery for him, but when I see all of the different mediums it’s amazing how talented everyone is with the different photographs and creations. It’s so exciting to see how much talent there is in the school district, and it’s so diverse, too; there’s so many different options. The art teachers are always really in tune with letting the kids express themselves. It’s so positive as well the way they let them know they’re in the art show. [Miles] was so proud to be a part of it, ” said Michelle Vercher, Miles Vercher’s mother.
The art show also had on display forms of art in various forms of media besides just the conventional paintings and sculptures- guests also had the opportunity to hear from North Penn music students including the Navy Jazz band, North Penn choir, and guitar lab students.
“Getting exposure for this art is so many things, but most of all it’s an outlet for human expression. There’s an infinite number of ways you can express [yourself], so allowing everybody to be here- no matter what they choose to display- is what brings us together as a community,” said Jeet Satpute, performing for the North Penn Navy jazz band.
Art by definition is a form of human expression, and every day North Penn students express themselves through fashion; from the top they pick out, or the shoes they choose to sport, or the pair of pants they slide on in the morning. Still, clothing is one of the most seen and yet overlooked forms of art, but the art show also allowed its guests to see the hard work done by the clothing department. Greeting guests at the main entrance were pieces created by Clothing and Textiles, Advanced Clothing, and Career Study students, applying the skills of sewing and design to create fabulous displays of their own creative vision.
“It gives everybody that opportunity to have a creative outlet that might be just a little different. I don’t think people realize that actual fashion is a part of the arts. We take it for granted because on a daily basis we have to wear clothing, but the actual art of creating it and using the medium of fashion with clothing really is artwork. Clothing is the realest form of expression that you can get. You can look at what they were thinking and what they thought visually, what they dreamed of by what they made,” Joelle Townsend, North Penn Clothing and Textile and Advanced clothing teacher, said.
Matt McLean, a graphic design student, also helped to organize the second year of the art show’s film festival, highlighting the work created by those involved in animation paired with posters made by graphic design students.
“We tried to make this year bigger and better. Every animator and graphic designer played a role, and we’re really proud of how it came out. Animation is still so new compared to paintings, and we’re still seeing so much growth. We’re seeing younger generations who are going to be the next Disney and the next DreamWorks, and I think it’s important for them to feel inspired so they don’t lose inspiration,” McLean said.
For everybody involved, the art show is a visual display of a year of dedication and work for both students and teachers. Without the instruction and organization of staff and the beautiful creations as a result of talent by North Penn students, the art show- as well as the district itself- would not be what it is.
“It’s busy. It’s worth it, though. It’s a lot of work, and I’ve been collecting artwork the whole year, and then we just have to sort it, mount it, and put it together. As an art teacher, before we take everything down, I take a walk around and look at everything in all of the parts of the building and it’s really cool to see these things that give me ideas. I love seeing former students; I recognize names and that makes me really proud. It’s something that everyone- from parents down to kindergarteners- can get something out of because it is visually so enriching,” said Mrs. Kozdra, Knapp elementary art teacher.
Joanne Carrick • Jun 13, 2025 at 8:19 am
Well said, Joni!