Creativity and imagination was on full display at the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center (MACC) on Saturday.

The annual Marshalltown Community School District Art Show displayed pieces in a variety of mediums – pencil, paint, ceramics and more. Students from all grade levels were represented, such as Franklin Elementary second grader Finnley Danielson. He displayed a necklace made from a decorated paper plate.

“First, we cut a strip and then carved it around our necks and then we painted it and put small details on it,” Danielson said.

The design featured on his piece “just popped in my brain,” he said.

“When you create something, it feels good,” Danielson said. “I also like drawing forests.”

All of the district art teachers had a hand in coordinating the show. Marshalltown High School Art Teacher Kirk Niehouse had the most experience with the annual event, as he has been teaching for 26 years.

There have been some hurdles through the years, he said. After the 2020 derecho severely damaged the MACC, the show was moved to the high school auditorium. Saturday marked the first year it was brought back to the MACC.

“This exhibit is going great, fabulous attendance and a great crowd, and the artwork is just awesome,” he said. “The students have done a really good job. We’ve had about 300 to 400 people come through.”

Niehouse primarily teaches ceramics to roughly 100 high school students, so he really enjoyed the displayed pottery. However, he said the drawings and paintings of the elementary students were also excellent.

“Marshalltown has a great history with the arts, and the district has supported the arts really well,” Niehouse said. “Our kids have always done really well over the years.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or bradstream@timesrepublican.com.