When Monroe School student Mia Hoyos learned her artwork was chosen for inclusion in a statewide art display, she ran around the house screaming. “I really like the picture that I made. It was one of my best and I worked my hardest on it.” Hoyos painted the image of birch trees when she was in 2nd grade. Art teacher Theresa McGee submitted the piece to the contest sponsored by the Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA).
Hoyos’ picture was made in the 2011-12 school year during a lesson on Gustav Klempt. McGee notes that her students studied Klempt’s love of gold, the science of changing leaves, and the artistic use of perception and depth to add dimension to artwork.
IAEA members are annually asked to submit artwork that was created in their classroom. Approximately 500 pieces from students in kindergarten through high school are sent in for review. From that group, 40 pieces of outstanding student artwork are chosen. Hoyos and McGee attended the IAEA Student Show reception and ceremony on November 3 in the Regency Ballroom.
IAEA member and contest co-organizer Eryn Blaser remarked, “The Student Art Show demonstrates to the public the relationships between art teachers, students, and their art programs throughout the state. The art teachers are able to give their students the tools, information, and the ability to show and explain techniques that students in return can use to create their own individualized work they can call their own creations. It is amazing to see how students can interpret the information we give them, the decisions they make, and how the final product looks.” Following the reception, the art will travel to schools, libraries and galleries throughout the state.
