Eastin Parents Recreate Masterpieces

is putting parent involvement on display.

The school’s volunteer-run program, which teaches art history and appreciation to Eastin students, recently held a parent night where parent volunteers created artwork sans their children.

Works created during the “Mimic the Masters Night” in January went up this month at and runs through March 31.

“It gives [parents] a chance to do something they probably haven’t done since they were kids,” said Kate Sprotte, an Art Vistas parent volunteer who helped bring the program at Eastin.

During “Mimic the Masters Night,” about 50 of the program’s 150 parent volunteers recreated classic masterpieces such as Vincent van Gogh’s “Café Terrace at Night,” Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Memory” and Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.”

The Paddy’s exhibit features 18 of those works, including some by Eastin teachers and an assistant principal, along with two original paintings.

Sprotte, who recreated Picasso’s “Child With Dove,” said she has no formal art background but enjoyed painting just as much as the students.

“It took the visual enjoyment of just looking at these beautiful prints and making it real,” Sprotte said. “It’s just a nice way to spend time and remember the value that art has for us … and tapping into the creative side that we don’t often make time for.”

“It reinforces what we’re doing by bringing the program to the kids,” she added.

All of the masterpieces selected for “Mimic the Masters” were based on prints used during Art Vistas lessons.

Throughout the school year, Eastin students engage in six classroom lessons and hands-on projects led by parent volunteers. Each grade has an “artist of the year” who the students study. The program covers various principles, elements and movements in art, such as abstract art, impressionism and primitivism, Sprotte said.

Sprotte and other parents decided to bring the program to Eastin due to the dwindling art programs in public schools. Established in San Jose in the 1980s, parents implemented Art Vistas lessons in 2007 at Eastin and fund the program themselves.

At the end of each school year, the school holds a where students’ works are auctioned off to help fund the next school year.

This year’s gallery night will be held June 1, Sprotte said.

See selected works from “Mimic the Masters” now through March 31 at Paddy’s.