Pumpkins, painted

As families streamed into the gymnasium at Emerson Hough Elementary on Tuesday night Nicki Hornbaker couldn’t have been happier. The first Fall Art Night, organized by Hornbaker and fellow art teacher Katie Craney was a hit. A crowd comprised of 173, including students, their parents, and their siblings turned out for the first of two art nights this year. The second art night, scheduled for April 17 will feature a tie-dye theme, but Tuesday was all about the pumpkins.

The two art teachers, who each split time between Newton’s elementary schools wanted to create an event that would bring children from all four schools together, and give students a chance to create something unique with their parents.

“Our kids do art in the art room, but you can do it other places as well,” Hornbaker said. We’re really excited about it.

Thanks to a grant Newton Community Education Foundation the school supplied the paint and the paintbrushes, students only had to bring their pumpkins and their imagination. For parent Kasey Frosch-Machuta, the event was a welcome opportunity to spend more time with kids.

“I just wanted to spend some time with my family, I work a lot, so this means a lot to me,” Frosch-Machuta said. “It’s great to watch the kids be artistic, just to see each of them as individuals.”

Each of Frosch-Machuta’s four kids brought their own pumpkins to the art night, but they all took turns painting each of the pumpkins together. Frosch-Machuta said she couldn’t be happier to have a chance to spend some extra time with her kids.

“I love doing this stuff, it actually gives you some family time together,” Frosch-Machuta said.

Contact David Dolmage at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or ddolmage@newtondailynews.com