Medford Students’ Artwork to be on Exhibit at Meadow Glen Mall in March

The acclaimed Medford Children’s Art Showcase will be on exhibit at the Meadow Glen Mall from Sunday, March 2nd through Saturday, March 29th. This expansive city-wide exhibit features over 500 pieces of art from third grade, seventh grade, and high school students throughout Medford. A wide range of artwork from Brooks Elementary, Columbus Elementary, McGlynn Elementary, Roberts Elementary, Andrews Middle School, McGlynn Middle School, and Medford High School will illustrate the creativity and technique of young artists in three very different stages of artistic development.

Started in 2009, this exhibit offers a unique opportunity for Medford students to exhibit their artwork outside of the classroom. Third grade art teacher Kate Shanley from Roberts Elementary School appreciates the opportunity the exhibit provides for her students. “My third graders love having their art be a part of a ‘real show’, and their overall self esteem and confidence is really boosted when they see their work in the exhibit. It’s also a great opportunity for the parents to see their child’s creativity come to life on the walls of the mall.” This year, Shanley’s students will be exhibiting “Owls in the Moonlight,” multi-media scenes using crayon, watercolor paint, tempera paint, pencil, and construction paper. Other works on exhibit will include line-drawn patterned leaves, color wheels, and snow globes made of a wide range of materials.

The showcase corresponds with National Youth Arts Month, an annual observance during the month of March that spotlights the importance of art education for youth and quality school art programs. Since 1961, National Youth Arts Month has strived to bring attention to the value of arts education in schools, a mission shared by the artists, teachers, and volunteers of the Medford Children’s Art Showcase.

The showcase will be free and open to the public between regular Meadow Glen Mall operating hours. Photos of the event will also be prominently displayed on the Meadow Glen Mall’s Facebook and Pinterest pages. A private reception for the artists, teachers, and families will take place at the mall on Sunday, March 2nd from 1:30-2:30pm. For more information about the exhibit, visit www.studioJCD.com/cas.php or visit the Medford Children’s Art Showcase facebook page.

The Medford Children’s Art Showcase is supported in part by a grant from the Medford Arts Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The exhibit is coordinated by local volunteers.

– Submitted by Allison Fiske