Merced third-graders show off artwork

Students at Fremont Elementary School in Merced showcased their creativity during a recent art show.

The show on Friday was the culmination of an eight-week course for third-graders examining the “Modern Art Masters.”

Students then created their own mini masterpieces inspired by famous works from the likes of Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Alexander Calder, Dale Chihuly, George Rodrigue and other well-known artists, school officials said in a news release.

“The students worked with metallic paint, oil pastels, cut paper, recycled water bottles, and a variety of other media,” officials said in the statement.

Students acted as docents during the show, providing parents and other guests a tour through the displays.

The “Modern Art Club” program took place after school on Fridays, and nearly two dozen students voluntarily participated.

Students wrote biographies about the artists they studied, according to teacher Lora Wheeler, and learned how to appreciate and examine the beauty in diverse forms of art.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 4:04 PM with the headline "Merced third-graders show off artwork."