press release 10/18/05

Art in Action, a non-profit foundation providing art education to students grades K-8, opened a six-month long art show series on October 17 with an exhibit of student artwork based on Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh. The Sunflowers exhibit is on display until November 11 at the Foster City, Millbrae, San Carlos, San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, and Burlingame libraries. Exhibits change monthly October through May and feature student art inspired by different artists, ranging from portraits and landscapes to still life and abstract design created in media like chalk, watercolor, paint, and collage. Projects are inspired by Art in Action lessons in which students learn to identify the style and techniques of renowned masters, such as Picasso and van Gogh. Students create their own masterpieces based on their growing understanding of the world of art.

“When children see their work hanging on the walls with other outstanding student artwork, they experience the pride of personal expression and a profound sense of accomplishment,” says Art in Action founder and director Judy Sleeth. “By studying the works of famous artists, the students develop an appreciation of art history and learn to express their own ideas through art.”

Art in Action provides school curricula, summer ARTcamps, and training for volunteer docents. This fall, nearly 750 docents attended daily workshops where they learned how to teach the Art in Action school program in the classroom. The Art in Action program will be taught in more than 60 schools, reaching over 13,000 Bay Area students this year alone. For more information, contact Art in Action at (650) 566-8339 or www.artinaction.org.

WHERE & WHEN:

The art show series is on display October 17-May 5 at the following local libraries: Foster City, Millbrae, San Carlos, San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, and Burlingame.