Coutts exhibits student art

The Coutts Museum of Art is again kicking off its 2010 special exhibit season with two Butler County Student Art Exhibits.

The first exhibit for kindergarten to eighth grade students opened Monday and a  public reception will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.  This exhibit will be on display at the museum, located at 110 N. Main Street in El Dorado, through Feb. 20. 

“The Coutts Museum proudly displays the work of our area schools and supports the art instructors and students who acknowledge the value of art education,” said Terri Scott, museum co-director.

All of the schools in Butler County were invited to participate in this student art exhibit and 24 will be represented. 

Each school is limited to 20 works of art which are selected by the art instructors. Approximately 420 students will have their work on display.

Art instructors will be given a certificate and ribbon for each student to honor their participation in the exhibit. These awards are again made possible in part through funds from the El Dorado Charities Auxiliary. 

The following Butler County schools and instructors will be participating in the first exhibit: Andover Cottonwood Elementary – Ellen Wilson and Lisa Findley, instructors;     Andover Meadowlark Elementary – Ginger Steck and Wilson, instructors; Andover Prairie Creek Elementary – Steck, instructor; Andover Robert Martin Elementary – Findley, instructor; Andover Wheatland Elementary – Geneva Ring, instructor; Art Room (home schooled students) – Brenda Yarnall, instructor; Augusta Lincoln Elementary – Charlene Jesser, instructor; Augusta Robinson Elementary – Jesser, instructor; Augusta Middle School – Ruth Lawlor, instructor; Benton Grade School – Judy Haynes, instructor/coordinator; Circle Middle School – Brenda Collins, instructor; El Dorado Grandview Elementary – Sherry Hermreck, instructor; El Dorado Jefferson Elementary – Hermreck, instructor; El Dorado Lincoln Elementary – Hermreck, instructor; El Dorado Skelly Elementary – Hermreck, instructor; El Dorado Washington Elementary – Hermreck, instructor; El Dorado Middle School – Gail Nuckolls, instructor; Flint Hills Primary – Barbara Anderson, instructor; Flint Hills Intermediate – Michal Austin, instructor; Flint Hills Middle School – Austin, instructor; Oil Hill Elementary School – Jonna Garbee, librarian/coordinator; Rose Hill Primary – Brian Goetz, instructor; Rose Hill Intermediate – Goetz, instructor; and Rose Hill Middle School – Joel Blessant, instructor.   

“You may think students would not be missing out on anything if art was not offered in their school sys0tem; however, we all live in a world that communicates through visual images,” Scott explained. “On a daily basis we all use forms of art: literature, advertising, entertainment, merchandising, and yes, even computer graphics just to name a few.  You have made an artistic decision if you put together the pieces of your outfit today.”

It’s not really magic – though some students are often so surprised with ideas, techniques, experiments and results that it seems so to them. Creative ability is something all children possess. Stimulating imagination is just one area with which art education deals. Endless wonder and curiosity are already on overload as they are directed into an art project.  The stage is set, so to speak, for them to take over and begin to interpret and understand, as well as explore the wonderful world art has to offer.

“Students of art become students of life,” Scott said. “Once they experience the difficulty and happiness of creating art, some will pursue the profession for life. But the purpose of art study is not to make artists of our young people; it is to help them become complete human beings. It is art that best inspires the imagination. Art is self-created, promoting both curiosity and confidence that can be transferred to real-life situations.”

The staff of the Coutts Museum invites the public to attend this exhibit and support the artistic talents of the Butler County students and instructors.

Those unable to attend the public reception can visit the exhibit at the museum during regular museum hours: 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. 

The museum is free and open to the public.  For more information, call 321-1212.