The gallery evening – titled “Gallery 4300” - will feature art created by schoolchildren from Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School during the 2006-2007 school year. In addition to viewing the art projects on display, attendees can participate in the planned interactive exhibits. Face painting, caricature drawing, children’s improv workshops, and a sing-along are among the audience-participation options.
According to Cyndi Heiniger, the creator of Project: ARTsmart, the purpose of this event is to “develop confidence and pride in a child’s creative ability by showcasing the student’s projects from the past school year.” The gallery will “…link school, church and the neighborhood through a community celebration of the arts (and) create awareness of the importance of the arts (visual and performing) to families and civic leaders,” says Heiniger.
This year, the Project: ARTsmart curriculum included studying works by Kahlo, Chagall, O’Keefe, and traditional Japanese print making. The exhibits on display include exercises by the students in the styles of the artists they studied. One example of this is the collection of “dream” paintings which will be displayed, inspired by the otherworldliness of Marc Chagall.
According to Beck Anstee, a Project:
The Belle Plaine Studios are located near the corner of Belle Plaine and Lincoln in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood. Admission is free, but there is a suggested donation of $3 per family, and certain exhibits or activities may require payment.
