For Immediate Release: 2/25/10
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 13th annual special gallery exhibit of the art of 
local youth. The gala opening event on Friday, March 5 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.

Five local students known as Springer's Singers for their voice 
teacher, Pat Springer, are featured entertainment. Friday night's 
opening is a dress rehearsal for the five who leave for regional 
competition the next day. The Singers include: Reid Bondurant, Chenaya 
Milbourne, Rob Mann, Trenten Derryberry and Rachel Wurster. "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 with both their number and talent."

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.” Earls gave special recognition to Warm Springs Middle School 
art teacher, Rachel Brown. "This is Rachel's first year. Her 
enthusiasm and the quality of her students' work has been inspiring."

The art used in the color poster advertising the show was created by 
Greenwood Elementary second grader, Paige Golden.

Due to still incomplete refurbishing of the gallery space, the student 
art show will be spread throughout the Ice House's first two floors. 
“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 video starting 
in late March and theater in April," she said. "There are visual and 
theater art camps planned for this summer starting in June."

The Youth Art Show may be seen at the Ice House Gallery every Saturday 
and Sunday from 11am to 5pm through March 28.

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