Idyllwild Elementary School students learn about artistic endeavors as part of the smARTS program. File photo

The smARTS Exhibition, featuring the artwork of all Idyllwild Elementary School students, and those Middle School students who elected for art in the PTA smARTS project, will be held upstairs at the Middle Ridge Winery Tasting Gallery beginning Wednesday, March 14, and continuing to Sunday, March 25. A reception will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 17. This event is funded by donations and staffed by local artists and volunteers.

Since smARTS offers classes in visual arts, sculpture, theater, movement, creative writing, poetry, song writing and music, expect to see a variety of creative endeavors at the exhibit.

The program was created more than a decade ago because the school district had dropped the arts curriculum. Parents stepped up to the plate and created smARTS to ensure local students have an opportunity to express themselves and learn about art in all forms.

smARTS is a program entirely run by volunteers. Guest artist programming is shared between Idyllwild Arts Academy and Idyllwild School. IAA high school students are van pooled to Idyllwild School to assist the younger students at Idyllwild School in their art projects.

What’s new and different with the upcoming Middle Ridge smARTS exhibit is that the Idyllwild School artists will participate in hanging their own work as part of the exhibit.