Last year, Smile Politely reported on a first for the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum — a children’s art exhibit. This time around, thanks to Colleen Montgomery, an associate at the museum, and Maddie Hall, an intern from Central High School, the two developed and curated a new exhibit. The mission and the objective are the same as before: reach out to local schools, collaborate with the respective art teachers in order to display their students’ artwork on the walls of the museum’s mezzanine for a month-long art show and give children the opportunity to see their artwork in a public space, become an intregral part of our community and experience the museum itself.
Now, students from Campus Middle School for Girls (under the instruction of their art teacher, Cheryl Louviere), display their prints and collages from a recent art class project. The compilation of artwork is titled, “It’s a Bird, It’s a Bug, It’s a Print.” Louviere taught her students techniques and history behind printmaking and collage work, allowing the girls to create unique pieces of art.
The first installment of the exhibit opened last month and will run through the end of January. It was hosted by the students of Booker T. Washington Elementary School under the direction of Shauna Carey.
There will be an art opening for the show on Friday, Jan. 23 from 6–8 p.m. During the opening, families will have the chance to meet the artists and curators, view the artwork, play in the museum and enjoy refreshments and hot chocolate. The art opening is free, but donations are welcome.
In regards to her expectations for the exhibit, Montgomery explained, “I want this to become a big exhibit with extravagant openings that the public is aware of. I know how excited the children are when they see their art on the walls, and I want them to share that with other members of the community.”
Along with the art opening, the artists from “It’s a Bird, It’s a Bug, It’s a Print,” will be hosting a Printmaking Workshop open to the public. The workshop will take place at the museum’s mezzanine on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 1–3 p.m. Under the supervision of Cheryl Louviere, the students from Campus Middle School for Girls will guide children through printmaking techniques, allowing them to make their own prints that they can display at the museum along with the show. This event is free with admission, and no pre-registration is required.
At the end of the exhibit’s run at the museum, the art is looking for another place to be displayed. If your business in C-U would like to host the show next, please contact Colleen Montgomery for more information.