WEEDSPORT - Area art fans who want to see the creative process in its earliest stages can do so by visiting a Weedsport coffee house. Classroom art projects created by more than 60 elementary school students are currently on display at Burritt's Cafe.

The coffee shop held a meet-and-greet event Sunday, inviting the young artists, their families and area residents to view the pieces.

The place was bustling through much of the afternoon, with visitors both young and old sipping coffee and decaffeinated beverages, playing board games and listening to live acoustic music by New York City singer/songwriter Caleb Hawley.

The month-long exhibit will stay on the walls through the end of February.

The show features the work of first through fourth graders at A.A. Gates Elementary School in Port Byron. Each of the art projects fits in with the same theme, which is “Frosty February.”

There are portraits of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, log cabins, watercolor snowmen and snowflake collages. Some of the older students contributed Picasso style self-portraits and pictures of Greek pottery.

Gates Elementary art teacher Nancy Sweet said Sunday she was pleased with the turnout, as most of the students whose art is being shown stopped by the cafe with their families.

“The art standards for New York state talk about creating and displaying the art,” Sweet said. “This is great exposure for them. We want students to know that their art can be shown and that they can be proud of it.”

Sweet said that Burritt's contacted her and asked if she was interested in showing work by her students. Students at the elementary school usually do three art shows a year, but this is the first time their work has been exhibited in such an environment.

“I think this is great for the kids. This is a terrific coffee shop, this really is,” Sweet said.

Since Burritt's opened in Weedsport about two years ago, it has displayed artwork by various local and out-of-town craftspeople. The cafe shows work by new artists every month, and holds a similar meet-and-greet for each. Next month, the featured artist will be Ray Foody, who will show 19 abstracts.

Burritt's co-owner Darryl Wolford said this is not the first time the cafe has shown student artwork. Much like with its live music, the cafe's art is very diverse, Wolford said.

“We like to keep it a very varied menu here, and that is something we want to keep doing,” he said.

For Sweet, the show at Burritt's is an example of what can happen when art education is encouraged in elementary school. Not only does it foster the students' creativity, but it can also improve their performances in other subjects. For instance, the snowflake collages accompanied math lessons in the classroom, and the Greek vases were created in conjunction with a unit in art history, she said.

“Elementary art is not mandatory in New York state schools,” Sweet said. “And I am very appreciative of the years of support I have received from Port Byron schools through the years.”

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.

If you go

What: “Frosty February,” work by art students at AA Gates Elementary School

When: Art will be displayed through the end of February

Where: Burritt's Cafe, 8914 N. Seneca St., Weedsport

For more information: http://burritts.com