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Local schools shine spotlight on creative side

By KEVIN HODGSON SevenSOUTHAMPTON year-old Scott Kantor, running from desk to desk, is advising his first-grade classmates on a proper response if the visitor asks them about their art class at the Beverly L. Larrabee School. "Tell him you eat, live and breathe art," Kantor says to his friend, NicholasSaltmarsh,as he lightly pokeshim in the side. But Saltmarsh, a smile on his round 7-year old face, shakeshis head with ar defiant "no" and then softly recites his own philosophyon art: "I like pretending to do things I can't do yet because I'm just a kid. I can do that through my drawings." As if out of exasperation,Kantor finally tells the visitor his saying and then further articulates the thought. "My parents say I love art too much. Every time I get home, I want to.draw something.' Moment of pride For art teacher Leslie diCurcio, it's clearly a mornent of pride as she rcatches her studentsrespondto questionson the importanceof art in their lives. And in this month, which is designated National Youth Art Month, it is more relevant than ever, diCurcio said. Events are scheduledall month for students as a way to highlight art in the schools. "We want to draw attention to the fact that art is part sf the student's full education,not just another luxury," diCurcio said, with an obvious reference to the cuts art programs are experiencingacrossthe region. As part of the celebration,the halls of the school are lined with hand-drawnposters and the cafeteria will be serving foods with artistic thernes. Also, the Guild Art Center, of Northampton, is displaying the students' "Dreamcatcher" creations, which are based on an African legend of a mother spinning a web ov'er the baby's crib to scare away bad dreams.

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CREATIONS : First-grader Bethany Motyl concentrates as she cuts a pieee of paper in art class yesterday at the Beverly L. Larrabee Schoolin Southampton,during National Youth Art Month. trees, lollipop bushes,and licorice stick plants; She also seems to have a grasp of the budget cuts that have dwindled down the art program. "I want to have it (art class) more," Flynn said sadly. "We used to have it every week, but now its only every other week. I want to stop it from getting \4'orse,"

the Pure Foods supermarkets in And the youngsters have town. worked hard on crayon works of Brenna Flynn, 6, crafted a art that now glace the sides of hundreds of grocery bags being small scene on her paper bag distributed at both the Big Y and which featured ice cream cone

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