CC / Rahr-West Art Museum Exhibit Poster
The following is an article written by Diana Bolander, Assistant Director/Curator at the Rahr-West Art Museum for the Art Forward series.
From April 11 through May 2, 2021, the Rahr-West Art Museum will feature student artwork from the high schools in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference. This includes Brillion, Chilton, Kiel, Two Rivers, Sheboygan Falls, New Holstein, Roncalli, and Valders High Schools. At the Rahr-West Art Museum, we believe strongly in the power of arts education: the arts improve academic performance, strengthen the economy, spark creativity and innovation, and strengthen mental health. The arts have a huge impact in our schools, often improving motivation and attendance. We are honored to celebrate the students of the Eastern Wisconsin Conference again this year, especially given the unique obstacles students have faced due to Covid-19, school closures, and quarantines.
This year’s exhibit is organized by art teacher Tim Woodcock of Valders Area School District. Woodcock believes that the annual Eastern Wisconsin Conference exhibit at the Museum is important because it provides the students a motivational tool to work hard and strive to make pieces worthy of “a real art museum.” He says, “It is like the Academy Awards for twelve dedicated high school art students to have their pieces chosen to be exhibited in such a respected and honored venue.”
“Songbird,” Erin Sullivan, Valders High School
This year has been especially challenging for both students and teachers. Woodcock rose to the occasion by being creative with assignments and materials that the students used when they were doing distance learning at home. He says, “One assignment was to create your own paint using natural substances or spices, along with other recipes that the students could invent on their own. I then had the students do a painting with their “new” paints!” Humans have always strived to find outlets for creativity. Indeed, the oldest known cave paintings date back over 44,000 years found in two disparate locations: western Europe and Indonesia. Their paint materials no doubt consisted of materials along the same lineage as Woodcock’s students. The ability to create in times of stress is truly a unique trait found in our species.
Woodcock is exceedingly proud of students’ flexibility and creativity this year: “I am very proud of how so many of my students were able to maintain motivation in a school year that had so many twists and turns. Although we were in-person for the majority of the year, many students were intermittently quarantined and had to work on their art in differing ways, often coming up with supplies they could adapt. It really pushed their creativity in new ways!”
“La Ola,” Samady Romo, Valders High School
According to Americans for the Arts, “The arts are an effective resource in reducing depression and anxiety and increasing life satisfaction. Just thirty minutes of active arts activities daily can combat the ill effects of isolation and loneliness association with COVID-19.” Visit the Rahr-West Art Museum this weekend to celebrate the dedication of these students and teachers and to improve your own outlook.
