A heart and sole experience for Wheat Ridge students - #lakewoodnews

At first glance, the four cubbies full of Vans tennis shoes in the Fresh 23 Studio makes you wonder what shoes have to do with art.

But for the past nine years, those shoes, and hundreds of pairs before them, have been a blank canvas for student creativity, personal growth and leadership.

"I really like them to be the leaders of this whole thing," said Franky Scaglione, art teacher at Wheat Ridge High School. "It gives them a new perspective on what an art show can be --; a new format, a different venue and concept --; while really encouraging them to work as a team."

On May 14, 32 Visual Arts students will throw a party centered around one event: the Fresh 23 Fashion Show.

From start to finish this show --; centered on Vans Shoes --; has been conceptualized, organized and performed by Scaglione's 10th- through 12th-grade visual arts students. Students come up with a concept, such as this year's "Welcome to the Jungle," and design artwork for 23 pairs of Vans shoes.

Students also organize the event, from finding sponsorships to creating the set design.

"It's kind of cool because I've never been in a position where I'm in charge so heavily," said Bailey Carkeek, a junior and the show's head of sponsors. "I've learned how to communicate better with people in my team and outside in the community ... It's created responsibility for us in a time when we really need it."

From cartoon farm animals attending a ball in the jungle to fairies and gnomes, the fashion show captures the creativity, imagination and talent of Wheat Ridge's visual arts students in one thematic event.

"Being an artist is about how you represent yourself and your work," Scaglione said of the skills the show teaches his students. "Every year it's different. Every year there are different kids. But it still has this same high energy and it gives us something to look forward to the next year --; these kids in here are already thinking about what they can do next year."

It all began with an idea.

In 2007, Scaglione and his friend, Shawn Gruenhagen, a sales rep with Vans shoes, decided to use an extra shipment of shoes as a project for Scaglione's art students. What they came up with, Scaglione said, was authentic, creative and customized. And so the Fresh 23 Fashion Show began.

For the first few years, Wheat Ridge students continued to cultivate a culture around the show, having a giant celebratory party for the visual arts students, families and friends.

"Part of the magic of this event is that it takes artists, students that typically don't get the limelight in high school, and puts them literally center stage to show off their skills," Gruenhagen said. "Meanwhile the the students that typically get that attention are in the audience ... cheering for them! Its pretty cool to see the entire baseball team sitting in the front row going crazy and cheering!"

After a few years, the party grew and gained national attention from Vans' creators.

Inspired by the students' passion and work, they took the students' concept and founded the Vans Custom Culture competition.

Today, the competition features fashion shows at more than 3,000 schools worldwide, highlighting students' creativity and skills while bringing attention to diminishing high school art budgets across the world.

"Fresh 23 is one of the most special events at Wheat Ridge due to the fact that the art kids get a night for themselves to show off their ability and dedication to their passion," said Rielly Marquez, who's one of the group's captains and in his second year with the program.

"Every year it get's better and better and I can't wait to attend all the other Fresh 23 events after this year to see the new and upcoming artists take the lead."

While the event has grown, the goal for his students, Scaglione said, has always remained the same.

"It started here in this room," he said. "I really like the students to be leaders with this whole thing. They have had a lot of great creative leaders who've come before them to look up to. It's really a family --; The Fresh 23 Family --; that continues to grow."

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://wheatridgetranscript.com/stories/A-heart-and-sole-experience-for-Wheat-Ridge-students,213260?branding=15