Preparing Our Educators

Art unveiling brings McCracken’s halls to life

Crooksville Exempted Village School students

Students from Crooksville Exempted Village Schools discuss their artwork at the Fifth Annual Art Unveiling.

ATHENS, Ohio (May 10, 2011)-The halls of McCracken buzzed with excitement as the artwork for the Fifth Annual Art Auction and Extravaganza was revealed. Thirty-four pieces of art from students in grades 1-12 from Crooksville Exempted Village Schools now adorn The Patton College.

The May 2 event was attended by more than 90 student artists, family members, faculty and staff from Crooksville as well as representatives from The Patton College. Art teachers Linda Geyer, Brandy Morrison and Keeley Miller explained the mediums and techniques used in the artwork hung on the walls, beaming with pride for their students’ achievements. The pieces range from splatter painting technique and pop art to pointillism and contour line drawings.

The students introduced themselves and shared what they liked most about their artwork or art teachers. Many said they appreciated the freedom their art teachers gave them to be creative and follow their own paths in their artwork. Others liked using and learning about different mediums. The students agreed that if it were not for the teachers pushing them to work harder, their artwork would not have the quality seen today hanging in the McCracken Hall lobby.

Second grade student Allison Baughman created a snowman using tissue paper and sponging, noting that she “put a lot of work into it.” Baughman named several artists discussed in class that inspired her work.

For the first time in the history of the event, the artwork will be moved in November to the Kennedy Museum of Art, where it will be sold in a silent auction on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. The event will be free and open to the public. Half the proceeds will go to the artist and the other half to the school’s art program.

Last year’s event raised more than $1,500. The Patton College looks to exceed that number in the fall. For more details leading up to the event, stay tuned to http://www.cehs.ohio.edu/news-events/events.htm.

To view all the pictures from the event, visit our Facebook page.

Story by Ashley Showen; Photos by Mark Brunton.

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