Milk? Check.
Cookies? Check.
Awesome assortment of art? Check!
The inaugural Young Peoples Clothes Line Art Show held a milk and cookies opening reception Friday evening at the Artcenter in Traverse City. The juried show included 103 works of art by students artists in grades K-12. The show will be up in the front gallery of the Artcenter, 720 South Elmwood, through December 29.
As artists and their families perused the gallery, where creations hung suspended by clothes pins from clothes line, for many it was the first public display of their work.
"It's kind of fun to put it in an art show,” said Lillian Klinetop, a fifth grade student at Cornerstone Christian school about her drawing entitled "Queen Emily.” "It's fun to see all the other works.”
Annie Moon, 7, enjoyed checking out all the works with her dad and sister — especially her own two drawings.
"When I was little, drawing was my favorite activity,” said the Cherry Knoll Elementary School second grader. "I did one of my drawings at school and one at home.”
Examining the works with a discerning eye, Moon commented on one piece in particular that inspired her.
"The most creative one I got ideas from has Pokemon in it,” she said.
The Artcenter launched the Young Peoples Clothes Line Art Show to kick off and raise awareness of their revised winter schedule of classes for kids. Starting in January, the center will offer instruction in everything from cartooning, clay and watercolors to drawings, puppet and mask making and mobile construction. Classes are geared to everyone from young children to teens to adults who are kids are heart.
"We're hoping to do this [show] again,” said Stephanie Starner-Grenier, office manager of the Artcenter. "It's been really helpful support.”
The Artcenter sent out notices to art teachers in area schools inviting submissions from students of all ages, in all media. Art works included in the show ranged from clay, oils and pencil drawings to photography, acrylics and collage.
'We didn't want to turn anyone away so we said juried in case we got filled from top to bottom,” noted Starner-Grenier, who joined the organization a year ago. "But we included everyone.”
The show did award a first, second and third prize, with the first place recipient never having been in a show before.
"It's undiscovered talent,” said Bob Streit, owner of the Twisted Fish Gallery in Elk Rapids and a board member of the Artcenter.
Jill Gibler of Traverse City attended the show with her husband, Tom, and daughters Briana and Chelsea, each of whom had a piece hanging on the wall. With her two daughters in the Traverse City Area Public Schools' Montessori program, Briana in second grade and Chelsea in kindergarten, art is a big part of their lives.
Even so, she appreciated that the Artcenter provided a showcase for so much young creativity.
"A lot of this talent would go unnoticed without a forum like this,” said Jill Gibler. "I really liked that they opened up a forum like this for kids.”
For more information on art classes for children and adults as well as weekly open studio times at the Art Center, call 941-9488 or see their web site at www.artcentertraversecity.com.