Ridgeway raises $$ for Fitton

Hamilton, Ohio – Imagine listening to Imagine Dragons for inspiration.

Ridgeway Elementary School fifth grader Grace Grant turned up their hit song “Believer” while turning out Alexander, a mixed-media depiction of founding father Alexander Hamilton that sold for $30 during the school’s recent school-wide art show.

Grant is one of half a dozen 17Strong Squad students who helped turn Ridgeway’s fourth annual art show – exhibiting hundreds of works by students in every grade – into its first-ever art-based fundraiser.

Student artists produced 12 framed, two-dimensional pieces and 12 more three-dimensional pottery pieces to put up for sale May 7. Proceeds benefited the Fitton Center for Creative Arts.

“It was kind of exciting because I had never sold anything before,” Grant said. “It felt good.”

Assistant Principal Hillary Snively oversees the elite 17Strong Squad. Students fill out an extensive application and must meet academic and behavioral standards to be part of the team. They do monthly philanthropic activities benefiting different organizations in Hamilton.

“A lot of our kids go to the Fitton Center for classes or to see shows,” Snively said. “In fact, a lot of the pottery pieces we put up for sale were made and fired there.

“When we were deciding where to direct our donations, that just kind of made sense for an art show. Our students already had a connection to the Fitton Center.”

Fitton Center representatives met the artists - and accepted their donation of more than $220 – on Tuesday, May 13.

“We’re incredibly grateful that the students would think of us,” said Fitton Center Executive Director Ian MacKenzie-Thurley. “It’s even more meaningful that they raised the money by making art.

“It’s amazing to see students that age engaging with and actively contributing to the success of their community. That’s a real tribute to the administration of the school and to 17Strong. It’s important for the students to see how art and creativity have a real and positive impact on their city.”

Sixth-grader Brooklyn Scarth created a companion piece to Grant’s Alexander entitled Hamilton. Her marker-and-colored-pencil illustration drew from historical likenesses and took her about 30 minutes to complete.

“I just wanted to make something related to Hamilton, the city, and that’s who the city is named for,” she said. “I haven’t sold any art before. It was fun, but surprising.”

Both pieces are now on view in the Fitton Center’s front office on the first floor.

Snively said she planned to build on the success of the first art sale.

“Now that we’ve done it and have seen the interest, we’ll be bigger and better next year,” she said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture