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HomeNewsArchives'Art 101: The Artwork of Art Educators' Opens Friday

'Art 101: The Artwork of Art Educators' Opens Friday

May 19, 2005 – Alexander's Bella Blu features "Art 101: The Artwork of Art Educators." The show is a collection of work from five art educators in the public school system in St. Thomas and members of the non-profit AVIVAE (Association of Virgin Islands Visual Art Education.) "Art 101" opens with a reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, May 20 with an opportunity to meet the artists at Alexander's Bella Blu in Frenchtown.
"This show highlights some of the incredible talent that we have on island in our art educators and will include original works in oil, acrylic, collage, and ceramics," Claire Ochoa Bella Blu show coordinator and Gallery St. Thomas owner, said.
"Art 101" features the professional work of five art educators and members of AVIVAE: Susan Edwards, Lisa Etre, Edney Freeman, Frances Rutnik, and Phebe Schwartz.
"The group has an impressive resume of formal and ongoing education in their respective areas of interest," Ochoa said, in a release.
The number of years the artists have dedicated to their personal education is only eclipsed by the number of years they have dedicated to students, the release said.
Since their formal college education, the five participating art educators have collectively spent over 100 years in art education. "I have realized over the years that teachers do not know where their influence ends. I have had students come up to me and relate their art class experiences and how it made a difference to them later in their lives and careers," Edney Freeman, art educator at Charlotte Amalie High School for 28 years and president of AVIVAE, said.
"These educators are all quite modest about their accomplishments and instead tend to focus on their students,"Ochoa said. "This exhibit is an opportunity for the community to view the artists' professional work outside of their classrooms."
AVIVAE was organized two years ago to provide continuing education and exhibit opportunities for St. Thomas and St. John public school art educators. Last year the group, assisted by a VICA grant, sponsored a workshop by graphic artist and children's book author, Adjoa Burrowes and this year held a raku clay workshop. "Art 101" exhibit promotes AVIVAE's efforts and the works are available for sale with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the organization.
To preview the exhibit go to www.GalleryStThomas.com or for more information contact 777.6363. The exhibit is open to the public.

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