ART EXHIBITION FOR CHILDREN SET FOR MAY 16 AT SE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM

A summer art exhibition for children will be unveiled May 16 at Southeast Missouri State University's Museum.

The show, titled "Children Are Drawn to Art" will contain works from the museum's permanent collection.

A four-year-old boy, Ethan Jokerst, accompanied by his grandmother, Barbara Herring, will help the museum director choose artworks for the gallery.

Jokerst, the son of Nicolas and Shelly Jokerst of Perryville and the grandson of Dr. Robert and Barbara Herring of Cape Giardeau, will be the junior curator of the exhibition.

On May 11, Jokerst and Herring went the museum storage room to select Jokerst's favorite artwork. The show will open May 16 and will remain on view until mid-August.

Jokerst has visited the museum many times while staying with his grandparents. He remembers many of the permanent displays at the museum and has asked his grandmother,"Do they still have the buffalo gun?" or "Is the snake statue still there?"

Herring is a volunteer for the museum. A love of art and an interest in the museum motivates her to volunteer approximately four hours per week on special projects. She and the director will install the children's exhibit.

They plan to hang drawings and paintings on the gallery wall at Jokerst's eye level since this is an exhibit especially for children.

They will also hang drawing boards containing blank paper and will supply crayons so that children visitors can color their own works of art in the gallery.

The "Drawn to Art" exhibit runs in conjunction with Southeast's Council on the Arts summer art classes on campus. Art in the Park, the Horizons Program and other creative summer activities for children.

The exhibit is open to the public and admission is free. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and evening and weekend visits for groups can be arranged by calling 651-2260. The museum is located on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.