There were paintings a la Rembrandt and Van Gogh, stylish hat designs with Versace flair and lifesize mannequins, and there were plenty of parents who were ready to buy, buy, buy to decorate everything from refrigerators to living room walls.

The original artwork, created by South Whidbey primary and intermediate school students for Gallery Night 2002, grabbed the attention of the proud parents strolled through the South Whidbey Intermediate School gym Monday, parents who were expected to admire and purchase the work created by the budding artists.

The annual event provides an opportunity for students to display their talents and is part of the Art Docent program supported by the South Whidbey Elementary Parent-Teachers Association. Proceeds from the sale go back to benefit the program.

“The purpose is to stimulate an awareness of art at an early age,” said Jeanette Eveland, SWEPTA’s coordinator of the event. “The kids are taught lessons by volunteer art docents and teachers who provide information on a wide variety of artists throughout history, their styles and their media.”

The evening was a presentation by student artists who offered their own interpretations of famous artists such as Rembrandt and Georgia O’Keeffe.

The gymnasium was transformed for one evening into the streets of Paris, as parents, students and teachers took in the art and stopped at the “Cafe des Artistes” for delectable morsels and enjoying the music of pianist Shirley Roraback.

Now, in its eighth year, the Art Docent program provides students with hands on experiences in the styles and techniques of world-famous artists. Each month since October volunteer art docents have visited the classrooms bringing with them prints of an artist’s work and information on the artist, as well as the opportunity for the students to creatively express what they have learned.

Gallery Night 2002 was the culmination of this year’s program.