MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Art Center has created a way to bring recognition to and show the artistic talents of regional high school, junior high and grade school students and even younger.
Mansfield Art Center said it knows the importance of creative outlets, particularly with school closings and lack of social activities with friends that children and young adults have, whether it be virtual art classes or art classes with enough space to socially distance.
“It is amazing the talent that has been entered and displayed for this year’s exhibition,” said George Whitten, Executive Director of the art center.
In the absence of the annual High School Governor’s Show this year, area school art teachers, Mansfield Art Center teachers, as well as parents, proudly have brought in works of art created by their students.
“We believe that the show must go on this year for the sake of the kids” Whitten said. “The teachers and students have all done an outstanding job selecting works for this show.”
The Elizabeth Thomas Black Gallery holds over 180 works of art created by high school students. Schools represented are Bucyrus, Mansfield Sr. High, Ontario, Lexington, Shelby, Northwestern, Waynedale, Plymouth and Pioneer Vocational School.
The Foundation Gallery has two and three dimensional pieces created by students in grades K-8. This is the third year for this event featuring students from Malabar Intermediate, Mansfield Middle School, Sherman, Springmill, Prospect, Woodland, Discovery, St. Peter’s, Spanish Immersion, Tyger Digital Academy and Gold Digital Academy.
Also, students are representing Mansfield Art Center through our MAC 21st Century S.T.E.A.M. program, Accelerated and Visual Arts Program and Tiger S.T.E.A.M. after school program.
“More than 105 pieces of art will be displayed by our younger students, not just in the Elizabeth Thomas Black Gallery, but throughout our whole art education wing,” said Debra Weaver, Program Director for the art center. “The kids have been so productive and creative, we needed to use our entire space.”
Many of the frames for the art pieces were donated by James Haring, owner of Comfort Inn so that all kids having pieces in the gallery have an opportunity to display their art matted and framed.
This exhibition is free and open to the public. The Mansfield Art Center is located at 700 Marion Avenue, Mansfield, Oh. The hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The art center is closed on Mondays.
Check mansfieldartcenter.org for further details on upcoming exhibitions, art classes and Gallery Shop events.
