Jackalope at the Beach

Leigh Drake

Last summer, Virginia Beach City Public Schools collaborated with the ViBe Creative District and the Canadian-based festival Jackalope to combine action sports with the visual arts.

Jackalope’s mission is to unite action sports communities and enthusiasts from all over the world to celebrate their shared passion. Last year was the festival’s first year in Virginia Beach and the United States.

This three-day event provided several opportunities for our students to be involved through both the action sports and visual arts platforms. Students and staff were proud to work with the festival and have authentic opportunities to showcase their many talents to our Virginia Beach community.

Skateboard decks and mural boards exhibited at the festival.

Mural Designs
Middle and high schools throughout Virginia Beach collaborated to create eighteen mural boards that complement the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Students at various schools were tasked with designing a mural to represent the festival, our Virginia Beach community, and the visual arts. Students worked together to develop ideas and express them on the 4 x 6' (1 x 2 m) mural boards, which were then displayed during the festival. The mural boards lined the railings of the boardwalk and beachside, allowing visitors to marvel at the talent of our extraordinary young artists.

Skateboard Decks
Wave Riding Vehicles (WRV) generously donated blank skateboard decks, giving students another opportunity to express their artistic visions. They incorporated Virginia Beach symbolism, symbolism from their own schools, action sports, the theme of the Jackalope, and more. They had a lot of choice in their work, so each design was as unique as the student who created it.

Students and staff were proud to work with the festival and have authentic opportunities to showcase their many talents to our Virginia Beach community.

Screen Printing On-Site
Our district’s paintings and skateboard decks on exhibit were a great addition to the festival. Attendees could also get free t-shirts designed by middle-school visual arts students at Old Donation School when they visited the printmaking shop hosted by educators Adam Roth, Andy Harris, and Catherine Gadzinski. Four designs were created and screen-printed for people to wear during the festival, and each design promoted the uniqueness of the Jackalope theme, the festival’s mission, and action sports.

Conclusion
Students and art teachers were proud of their contributions to this festival and loved being involved in Jackalope’s first appearance in the United States. It was great working with our community on every facet of this project, and we hope that the artwork provided a glimpse into the many talents of our students here in Virginia Beach.

Leigh Drake is the visual fine arts instructional specialist for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, and a contributing editor for SchoolArts. leigh.drake@vbschools.com