Artwork by middle, high school students on display

By Tom Woolf

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Local middle and high school students are showcasing their artwork at Southern Illinois University Carbondale's University Museum as a part of the "Art Fusion" exhibit, which opened July 5 and runs through Aug. 8.

"The Art Fusion project puts University Museum art resources to work serving the needs of rural Southern Illinois schools," said Robert D. DeHoet, museum educator and curator of the exhibit. " 2006 marks the first year of the long-range, cooperative project."

DeHoet held a series of workshops for middle and high school students from across Southern Illinois. Art educators from each school designed the workshops. Cooperating instructors were Paulette Aronson and Davie School of Anna schools, Tim Linduska of Elverado schools, Sue Gindlesparger of Zeigler-Royalton schools and Jan Southard of Goreville schools.

Each seminar included an art appreciation activity focusing on pieces from the University Museum's collection. Then, students used the art appreciation workshop as a jumping-off point to create their own works. The student artwork became part of an in-school exhibit, available for viewing by the rest of the school population.

The pieces from the in-school exhibits form the foundation of the "Art Fusion" exhibit at the University Museum. The pieces from the museum's collection that inspired the students are also on display in the exhibit.

The "Art Fusion" exhibit is in the Mitchell Gallery of SIUC's University Museum. A closing reception is set for July 30 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the museum. For more information about the University Museum and its exhibits, call 618/453-5388 or visit http://www.museum.siu.edu.

Enhancing cultural outreach efforts is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.

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