Students’ talents on display
- A Playground of Talent featuring artwork from elementary and high school students is opening at the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum.
- A free opening reception is from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. The exhibit runs through May 8 in the special exhibit gallery.
- The exhibit combines the former Playground of Color and Teen-Age Talent exhibitions.
- High school pieces will be judged in divisions of two-dimensional, three-dimensional and graphic arts.
COSHOCTON — Annual exhibitions of artwork from local youth is being combined into one display this spring at the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, 300 N. Whitewoman St.
A Playground of Talent will feature more than 200 pieces from elementary and high school students across Coshocton County. An opening reception with free admission will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the museum. The exhibit runs through May 8 in the special exhibit gallery. A virtual exhibit tour is being planned.
The dual displays were combined into one last year based on the continuing COVID-19 pandemic disrupting school activities. Jennifer Bush, museum director, said there was still a lot of uncertainty going into this school year, leading again to one exhibit. She hopes it can be two exhibits again in 2023.
The opening reception was canceled last year and she’s happy to have that back, as she believes it’s a good for students to bring family and friends to see the exhibit.
“You can just see the pride on their face. Being displayed in a gallery is pretty amazing, whether you’re a little first- or second-grader or a high school student. It’s something kids remember,” Bush said. “We want them to be creative in life, so having something on display encourages that.”
The elementary artwork is produced by students in kindergarten through sixth grade who attend elementary school in the county, or home-schooled students. Works are chosen by art teachers for their creativity and excellence. The colorful display features works in acrylic, collage, crayon and more. Subjects include landscapes, self portraits, animals and fantasy creatures.
The high school portion features works from students of Ridgewood, Coshocton and River View high schools and the Coshocton Opportunity School. Works were chosen for outstanding quality by high school art instructors and encompass a variety of media. This includes watercolor, acrylic, digital art and three-dimensional art among others. Judges will ranks pieces in the categories of two-dimensional, three-dimensional and graphic arts.
The exhibit is possible through funding from the Schooler Family Fund and the Ohio Arts Council.
Bush said while out-of-towners might not be drawn in by the exhibit, she said it has good support from the local community, even if they don’t have youth participating.
“They come in and appreciate it. They love seeing all the color and progression of work, but it’s really a community event,” Bush said of visitors from afar.
Next in the special gallery for the summer will be an exhibit on textiles with a focus on embellishments, like tassels, beads and fringe. Bush said they’re working on getting five items to display from the textile museum of Ohio State University. The fall special show will be an exhibit of artwork from members of the Coshocton Art Guild.
For more information, contact the museum by calling 740-622-8710 or emailing [email protected]. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children, $15 for families and free with Coshocton County residents on Sundays. The museum is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday and by appointment.
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