Jackson celebrates youthful art

Jackson students are expressing their artistic talent all over the place.

Jackson Schools' annual all-district art exhibit, titled "Art Expressions" this year, will take place May 6 and 7.

Jackson students' art work has also been on display in honor of Youth Art Month at Westfield West Park.

Although the shopping center gives as much space as it can, there still isn't enough room to display every single student's art masterpieces. Each art teacher selects the work of a couple of students. The basis of the teachers' decisions is that they are to display the artwork that most represents the purpose of their particular art program. The exhibit is always a week long.

"There are no contests," says Carol Horst, an art teacher at Jackson's South Elementary. "Just the honor of being selected to exhibit."

But the big show is still ahead. All of the artwork done by elementary school students in the Jackson district will be on prominent display for their annual all-district exhibit, which will be held at Jackson High School's multipurpose building on May 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then from 1 to 3 p.m. on May 7.

The exhibit includes thousands of pieces of art -- from paintings to sculpture to weaving -- all done by students from elementary to high school level.

Enhancing the displays will be guest artists and hands-on art centers, where visitors can create their own masterpiece.

Ukrainian egg design, portrait drawing, clay and mural-painting will all be part of the guest artists' demonstrations May 6. There will also be musical entertainment.

Emily Hendricks is a student at Southeast Missouri State University.