Thursday, October 9, 2008 8:00 PM CDT
MHS, MMS, MAC collaborate for first Common Grounds art exhibit
By NATHANIEL WEST, Staff Writer
nwest@jg-tc.com
MATTOON — Cody Collins’ reaction to earning a spot in a first-of-its-kind art exhibit may say a lot about the benefits of art education in general.
“It makes me know I can do something and not fail at it,” said Collins, a senior at Mattoon High School who started taking art classes just last year. “It’s pretty cool, to show something that I’ve done.”
He is one of almost two dozen high school and middle school students with pieces on display at Common Grounds in midtown Mattoon. The show marks the debut of artwork from MHS and MMS that is sponsored by the Mattoon Arts Council and displayed in such a public setting.
Common Grounds, the arts council and West & Co. are sponsors of the exhibit.
The best projects from art classes this semester, over the summer or late last year were chosen for the exhibit. These kinds of pieces previously have been installed in galleries on school property.
Janahn Kolden, MHS art teacher and MAC member, said the Common Grounds exhibit is sort of the high school and middle school version of the annual Eastern Illinois University Student Art Show at the Tarble Arts Center in Charleston.
“When we put the artwork at Common Grounds, the whole community gets to see it, and it brings exposure to the students,” Kolden said. “A lot of people don’t realize how talented these students are.”
Jamie Willis, MMS art teacher and watercolor artist, said the Common Grounds exhibit includes landscapes completed during EIU’s summer art school, which she helped teach. Various other paintings and mixed media landscapes — such as Fauves — also are part of the show.
Willis said her students are “thrilled” about the exhibit. “It’s the recognition; it validates their hard work, and gives them a sense of pride,” she said.
Taelor Tiffin, an eighth grader at MMS who has a Fauvism painting on display at Common Grounds, said she plans to pursue art in high school.
“Art is something I’m good at, and I want to keep doing it,” she said.
Eighth grade student Carson Hayes said he was surprised to be selected for the show. “I didn’t really think mine was that good,” he said.
Dylan Villarini, a senior at MHS, just got into art last year, and said he is excited to participate in the Common Grounds exhibit. “I like being proud of something that I’ve done,” he said.
Jocelyn Hooper, MHS sophomore, created a paper relief sculpture that was named to the show. She said she likes the idea of a diverse audience.
“Everyone gets to see it because everyone goes to Common Grounds,” she said.
Sophomore Philip Zike has previously displayed his artwork at Tarble, and he also is part of a current exhibit at Lake Land College’s library.
“It’s just nice that people want your artwork to be shown, that your artwork’s appreciated,” he said.
Or as eighth grader Marissa Showalter put it, “It’s nifty because other people get to see it.”
The exhibit will be up at Common Grounds through November.
Contact Nathaniel West at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.
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