The May 2 opening of the annual North Branford Public Schools (NBPS) Art Show had families packing the Edward Smith Library as they flowed along to check out hundreds of pieces of student art on shelves, walls, windows and every other conceivable space.

The show's opening afternoon drew a constant stream of attendees during a three-hour event. The artful climate was heightened by instrumental performances by students from Totoket Valley Elementary School (TVES), North Branford Intermediate School (NBIS) and North Branford High School (NBHS). Excited students found their artwork and posed for photos taken by proud parents.

The show is organized each year by NBPS co-Art Department chairs Elisabeth Caplan (grades 6-12) who teaches art at NBHS, and Diane Remetta (grades K-5) who teaches art at Jerome Harrison Elementary School. The show is hung by all of the art teachers in the NBPS system, with all art selected, delivered and displayed by teachers from every grade.

"Each school has quite a few hundred students, so to be in the show, each teacher selects the best work that's representative of what their classes are doing. It's really exciting to see show come together every year," said Caplan.

The multitude of mixed-media pieces will remain on display at the Smith until the first week of June.

The show alternates annually between the Smith, located at 3 Old Post Road in Northford, and North Branford's Atwater Library on the other side of town (1720 Foxon Road).

"We feel so fortunate to have these beautiful facilities to show off our students' work," said Caplan.