RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - A steady stream of families trooped into and through the Mills Station Arts and Culture Center (The MACC) on Friday, April 17. Participating students proudly showed their art to parents and siblings at the reception for the MACC Student Art Show.

Visitors listened to the Cordova High School Jazz Band playing on the porch, led by Kevin Sims, and JG Printing sold T-shirts printed to order.

“The parents and kids are always ecstatic to see the show,” said Cheryl Gleason, Art Director and Curator at the MACC.

In 2019, California officially established April as Arts, Culture and Creativity month. The same year, the MACC hosted its first annual student and teacher art show. The inaugural program included eight schools, eleven teachers and featured a total of 221 student artworks.

Trish Schleeter (left) works for the Cordova Recreation and Parks District.  She said, “Cheryl is working so hard to bring art back into schools and encourage kids to do creative things.” Photo by Rick Sloan

After a pause because of the pandemic, in 2022 there were approximately 200 student art works in the show. Years 2023 through 2025 showed regular increases in participation. In 2025, there were 705 artworks, and that December Rancho Cordova Arts gave almost $25,000 in art supplies to 131 teachers in Rancho Cordova. The 2026 show includes 1,005 pieces of art, a big jump from 2025.

“This all correlates to the amount of money Rancho Cordova Arts nonprofit gives in art supplies each year to the teachers of Rancho Cordova,” said Cheryl Gleason.

Around 800 people attended the show’s April 17 reception this year.

“The student show always has the highest attendance every year,” Gleason said. “This is the most labor-intensive show we put on each year at the MACC. It takes two weeks to cut and mat all the kids’ work and get it hung. But it is worth seeing the pride and elation on the faces of the students and families when they see the exhibit.”

The refreshment table is a popular element of the reception. Photo by Rick Sloan

Each artist has his or her own style, even though schools often assign a specific subject. Artist Kavya did her art as part of her class’s assignment to make a picture of the four regions in California: the coast, central valley, mountains and desert. Kavya said she likes to draw, and “human beings” are her favorite subject.

Artist Teagan Hall did a drawing of two ballons depicting the number 21.

“I got started because I randomly got put in art class,” Teagan said. “My birthday is the 21 of June, so I just chose that (for the number).”

Trish Schleeter teaches at Cordova Recreation and Park District preschool. She said that her students have been participating in the Student Art Show for several years.

“The fact that they’re letting my preschoolers in, when it used to be K-12, is very exciting,” Schleeter said. “My students get really excited about it and it’s a great way to incorporate community in the program.”

The MACC has set up panels to accommodate the abundant art. Photo by Rick Sloan

Schleeter said that some Park District staff used to work at the MACC as well, so there was some overlap.

“I think that creativity is something that’s kind of been lost over the years in education and it’s really important for kids to be able to express themselves, so having this place  for them to be celebrated for their creative endeavors is amazing.”

The Student Art Show at the MACC, 10191 Mills Station Road, Rancho Cordova, continues through Saturday, April 25. The MACC is open during exhibit dates only on Thursday and Friday, 2 to 7 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Teagan used graphite in creating this artwork. Photo by Rick Sloan