Tyler ISD's ArtFest brings together art, music and people (2024)

Families listened to music, created art and more Saturday during Tyler ISD’s ArtsFest at Tyler Legacy High School.

Attendees could visit stations to make bags, jewelry, wind chimes and hats. At another table, students could try string instruments.

Summer Evers, a fourth-year Andy Woods Elementary School kindergarten teacher, made a hat Saturday morning. She came to the event to support her campus and meet teachers. Alongsider her making hats were Andy Woods students Natalia Diaz and David Diaz.

“I just kind of wanted to tap into my little kid spirit and have a little fun and be funky, cool,” Evers said. “It’s good for the kids and our imagination and for adults.”

After making her hat, Evers said she wants to try it with her students.

“I didn’t know you could do this with simple crafts — just simple things that I have in my classroom,” she said. “I’m gonna go and I’m gonna make this with my class. So I’m glad I came because I’m getting ideas for my class.”

ArtsFest included various music performances from Tyler ISD students. Andy Woods students performed songs using ukuleles, and the Three Lakes Middle School jazz band performed in the cafeteria.

Art — paintings, digital art, pencil drawings and more — filled the halls Saturday at Tyler Legacy.

Andy Woods teacher Jennifer Davis brought her daughter to Saturday’s event. Joslyn Davis, 5, sat on a chair in an art room as she got her face painted.

Jennifer Davis said having the arts in schools is important.

“The arts are always the first thing that’s cut on budgets, and it doesn’t need to be because the arts are the reason why they stay in school,” Davis said. “So just to be able to showcase everything is super important. Really, the district needs to know what all we have to offer, and their kids need to be a part of it.”

Austin Elementary School art teacher Megan McDaniel came to ArtsFest for the first time.

She said she was excited to see the hard work of students and teachers to put together the event. Looking at the artwork other students made gave her ideas for what to do with her students, she said.

“The younger kids can see what they could possibly do as when they are older,” McDaniel said. “That is so important for them to be able to see that because they may think, ‘Oh, well, I don’t think I could possibly do that.’ But they can. We can do that. You just gotta ... try it and experience it.”

McDaniel teaches her students to be creative when an art piece is not going the way they want it to. She said she loves seeing her students thinking about the possibilities.

“If you’re not happy with it, try turning into something else,” she said. “Sometimes that can show your creativity and make something completely new that no one’s ever thought of. It’s produced so many beautiful, wonderful works. Kids prior were very upset about not being able to try and make something.

“OK, well, why don’t you try doing this, like, what else could you turn this into? They think about it, and they’re like, ‘I can turn it into this.’ They go from there, and they’re excited, and they’re like, ‘Look what I did!’”