FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/26/09
Morgan Arts Council • Berkeley Springs, WV
www.macicehouse.org -- 304-258-2300

PRESS CONTACT ONLY: Jennie Mallory -- 304-258-2300

YOUTH ART SHOW HIGHLIGHTS VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV ---- The Morgan Arts Council marks March
National Youth Art Month with the 12th annual special gallery exhibit
of the art of local youth at the Ice House in Berkeley Springs. The
gala opening event on Friday, March 6 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.

The performance features Patricia Springer's voice students singing
selections of musical theater. "They'll be taking these pieces to a
regional competition the next day," says Springer. "This will be the
perfect opportunity to show the community how they will be
representing Berkeley Springs."

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.” Nine public school art teachers and two homeschool teachers
participate.

The art used in the poster advertising the show was created by Warm
Springs Intermediate School 5th grader, Kaylee Younker a student of
art teacher Jerry Potter.

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,” says Mary Hott, MAC's Executive Director. “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, video and theater
plus we have Art From the Start on Saturdays for parents and children
from birth to five years old."

The Youth Art Show may be seen at the Ice House Gallery every Saturday
and Sunday from 11am to 5pm through March 29.

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