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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 02/15/08
BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV -----The Morgan Arts Council marks March Youth Art Month with the 11th annual special gallery exhibit of the art of local youth. The gala opening event on Friday, February 29 at the Ice House in Berkeley Springs features musical performances as well as hundreds of pieces of visual art. The Youth Art exhibit displays two and three-dimensional art produced by students in every Morgan County school and homeschoolers. Refreshments will be served at the opening reception to which parents, fellow students and the public are invited.
The exhibit and reception begin at 7pm and the performance at 7:30.
Berkeley Springs High School 12th grader, Paul Truitt serves as emcee of the show which also includes solo vocal performances by Tim Brooks and Jessie McLaughlin. Clarinet, trumpet, fiddle and violin solos are also scheduled as well as a unique Bach xylophone duet by Mariah Ryan and Kelsey Bennett. Student technicians run the lights and sound for the event. "It is gratifying to have the depth of student talent that allows a half hour performance of such quality -- and to have all the support be provided by students as well," said MAC Executive Director Mary Hott.
The Morgan Arts Council initiated the annual youth art show in 1995 as
part of a federal Goals 2000 grant. “The first two were held at
Widmyer. Until MAC created this event, there was no countywide art show for students,” said Sandra Earls who organizes the event for MAC.
“Now art teachers have grown to expect it as a way to provide public exposure for their students,” she said. “ We appreciate the art teachers’ support and could not collect and hang the art without their
help.” For the first time, Berkeley Springs High School has two
full-time art teachers. Both have students in the show.
The art used in the color poster advertising the show was created by Berkeley Springs High School 12th grader, Jessie McLaughlan whose mother has art hanging in the Ice House Co-operative Gallery. Amber Ritchie, an 8th grade student at Warm Springs Middle School, created the pencil drawing used on the black and white poster.
So much art is generated by students for the show that it overflows the
gallery space into surrounding areas. “Doing the Youth Art Show every
year represents the committment MAC has to the future artists of our community,” said Hott. “We encourage the community to show their support of young artists by seeing the exhibit during the month it will be hanging.”
Hott described extensive youth art activities produced by MAC. “Our
afterschool youth art classes include visual arts and dance starting on February 26 and special theater classes including video production in April and May," she said. "There are still Saturday classes for youth in visual and performance art through June, as well."
The Youth Art Show may be seen at the Ice House Gallery every Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm through March 30.
The Ice House is on Independence and Mercer streets in downtown Berkeley Springs. For more information on other MAC activities call 304-258-2300 or check online at www.macicehouse.org
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