Artist Craig Thomas to be honored at two area schools

Local artist Craig Thomas will be honored at two area schools this week, starting with a reception Thursday at the Cape Girardeau Central High School library.

The event will be like other artist receptions, displaying Thomas' work in the library for the public. At the beginning of the school year Thomas started work on a mural depicting the contributions of academics, music, visual arts and sports to Central High's culture. The mural was recently finished, along with a mural of Harry Truman and portraits of authors done in sepia tones: Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, Ernest Hemingway, Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman, William Shakespeare, Maya Angelou and Mark Twain.

Central librarian Julia Jorgensen said the projects are the first of their kind at the school in her 22 years there. Thomas' newer works follow a mural of a tiger, the school's mascot, that he painted a few years ago in the high school commons.

"Craig has had a real influence on this facility that we enjoy now," Jorgensen said. "He has made this space more attractive and has given our students a chance to see that people in Cape have talent."

Jorgensen said Thomas worked with students throughout the process, thereby showing them how a professional artist conducts his work.

Thomas is known for working with young student artists both inside and outside of school. He said working in the library was an enjoyable experience.

"It's a cool space," Thomas said of the library. "It was a cool space before I did anything in there."

Student art work and the music of the Central String Ensemble, directed by Steve Schaffner, will also be featured at the reception.

Jorgensen said the public is encouraged to attend.

On Friday Thomas will attend another reception in his honor at Jackson's South Elementary, where he recently completed his second mural at the school, depicting life in Jackson. The reception will take place from 2 to 6 p.m.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182