For Immediate Release: 2/28/11
MORGAN ARTS COUNCIL
Berkeley Springs, WV 

press contact only: Mary Hott -- 304-258-2300


YOUTH ART SHOW HIGHLIGHTS VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS


BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV ---- The Morgan Arts Council marks March Youth 
Art Month with the 14th annual special gallery exhibit of the art of 
local youth at the Ice House. The opening extravaganza on Friday, 
March 4 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.

Featured entertainment includes a return performance by the Springer 
Singers, named for their voice teacher, Pat Springer. The three young 
women: Reid Bondurant, Nativa Kesecker and Rachel Wurster are 
showcasing the songs they will present at an upcoming competition for 
the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). The newly 
formed Berkeley Springs High School SINGSATIONS also performs. The 
group includes a trio of seniors: Colleen Seager, Eve-Marie Zeledon, 
and Amy Hutchinson. Closing out the performance is senior Robbie Mann 
on fiddle. Mann was recently accepted into the prestigious bluegrass 
program at Glenville. "It is gratifying to have the depth of student 
talent that allows a half hour performance of such quality," said MAC 
Executive Director Mary Hott.

Featured in the visual art exhibit is the work of several Berkeley 
Springs High School seniors who are going on to art school in the 
fall. "We like to recognize those students who have been successful in 
their high school career and are continuing the work in college," said 
Hott. "And we are always impressed by both their number and talent."

The Morgan Arts Council initiated the annual youth art show in 1996 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.”

Two pieces of youth art were used in promotion of the event. The 2011 
poster art was done by 13-year-old Brooke Springer who is home 
schooled at Wind Dace Farm and Earth Education Center. Warm Springs 
Middle School 7th grader Tiffany Youngblood designed the flyer.

The student art show fills the Ice House Gallery and overflows into 
adjacent rooms and halls. “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.”

The Youth Art Show may be seen at the Ice House Gallery every Saturday 
and Sunday from 11am to 5pm through March 27.

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