By Morgan Pilz. Staff Writer

(March 12, 2020) The Worcester County Arts Council is celebrating National Youth Art Month by displaying artwork from Buckingham Elementary School and home-schooled students throughout Berlin throughout March.

By Morgan Pilz
Public school and homeschool student paintings, like this one by Zoe Leal-Galvan, will be on display
throughout Berlin during National Youth Art Month.

Youth Art Month is an annual observance in March that emphasizes the value of art education for students and to encourage support for quality school art programs. Student Art Month is also a tribute to the teachers who inspire their students to explore new avenues of creative expression. The nonprofit organization has been celebrating Youth Art Month for at least 15 years.

Artwork made by children ages 5-14 are currently displayed throughout Berlin in partnership with Little Dreamer’s Wellness Center, which has a mission to encourage children’s imagination and creativity through the arts, music, and cultural programs and activities.

“The arts council feels that it is important for us to support that group,” Anna Mullis, the council’s executive director said. “We know children who are in public or private schools in Worcester have access to arts programs. The kids in the home school community — they do not always have that opportunity. So, we try to present programs with them and feature their work as much as we can.”

In addition, there will be a selection of artwork by Buckingham Elementary third- and fourth-grade students, which was inspired by the Chamber Music by the Sea performance, expressing their visual connection to the music.

“The children were listening to music of Chamber Music by the Sea,” Mullis said. During that time, they were expressing what they felt to create a visual connection to the music.

In addition, there will be an open exhibit reception held at the Worcester County Arts Council gallery in Berlin on Friday, March 13, from 5-8 p.m. The reception will display the art by the Buckingham Elementary School students as well as two local artists, Marina Borovok and Barbara Scheihing.

Borovok will show her acrylic and oil paintings and Scheihing will exhibit her watercolor works. Two of their paintings will be donated for a silent auction during the reception.

Refreshments will be provided by Phil Cropper, culinary instructor for Worcester Technical High School. The reception is free to the public.

“The receptions are always very popular,” Mullis said. “This is something that the community is always looking forward to. It’s not only an opportunity for patrons and visitors to the gallery to see a professional local artist’s artwork on display, but it allows for social networking, meeting new people and appreciating the beautiful talent that we have in our community.”

The gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information about Youth Art Month or the reception, call 410-641-0809 or visit http://www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org/.