Local schools team up for month-long art showcase

By Bryce Kelly, Mt. Pleasant News

Students of the WACO and Winfield-Mt. Union Community School Districts are adding some artistic flourish to the Henry County Courthouse during the month of April and all Henry County locals are encouraged to see it for themselves.

The art show will be open for public viewing Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Henry County Courthouse. It will feature the work of Kindergarten through sixth-grade art students of WACO, and sixth-through 12th-grade art students of Winfield-Mt. Union.

?We are really excited people get to see these kids? work,? said WACO Community School District art teacher, Amber Scott. ?I hope that not only will parents come in and see the art, but that members of the local community in general will come in to see it, too. There are all kinds of works of art on display that showcase the wide range of artistic ability we have right here in Henry County.?

According to Scott, every art student was given the opportunity to choose one piece of art they have made over the course of the school year to be displayed at the courthouse.

This month?s showcase marks the first of its kind for both the WACO and Winfield-Mt. Union districts. A former teacher in the Mt. Pleasant Community School District, Scott says she and Winfield-Mt. Union art teacher, Cindy Riley, were inspired by the Mt. Pleasant Community School?s annual art show.

?I have always been impressed with the art showcase that Mt. Pleasant does in March, and always thought it would be cool for other schools to do something similar. The fact that Winfield and WACO could team up to do this is really great,? said Scott. ?Mrs. Riley and I feel this is something we would love to continue doing because we feel this is something that kids can learn from, and we like that the hard work they do as artists is recognized and appreciated.?

In addition to the showcase, which will be operating during the entire month of April, an art reception for all family and friends of the artists will be held on Sunday, April 30, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Henry County Courthouse. Refreshments will be served.

?If you are coming and going from the courthouse (this month), we invite people to just take a look at what the kids have made,? said Scott. ?Even if you make a special trip to the courthouse to look at the displays, you won?t be disappointed. There are really some special creations there.?