Members of SAD 17 Art Department Chairman Ed Stevens’ intermediate photography class at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School learn portraiture techniques. Several photographs from the class will be on exhibit for the SAD 17 Student Art Show at the Lajos Matolcsy Arts Center May 23 to 29. From left are Kyla Martin, photographer Rob Stiles and assistant Josh Kennison.

Arts group to host SAD 17 student works

NORWAY – “The Work of Art,” the first SAD 17 student art show to be held at the Matolcsy Arts Center in six years, will kick off the Western Maine Arts Group’s 2008 exhibit season on Friday, May 23, with a public reception from 5 to 8 p.m. at the 480 Main St. gallery.

The art work includes drawings, paintings, collages, photography, ceramics and sculpture and represents students from entire district ranging in age from 5 to 18.

“As fine arts educators, we believe that art connects us with who we are as individuals. Experiencing art collectively, as in the WMAG show, connects us with who we are as a community,” said SAD 17 Art Department Chairman Ed Stevens. “For that, we are grateful for our student artists and, as importantly, to those who view, value and support our art,” he added.

The WMAG began holding student art shows in the 1960s at its one-room schoolhouse gallery. WMAG founder Professor Lajos Matolcsy believed that guiding young artists in learning the process of preparing art for exhibit, hanging art in a gallery and representing the art in a public opening is critically important to a well-rounded art education, according to WMAG Executive Director Aranka Matolcsy.

By the last student art show in 2002, the WMAG was in need of revitalization and stopped holding the student shows to focus on rebuilding itself.

“We are thrilled that our revitalization efforts have resulted in the organization’s increased capacity to host the emerging artists of SAD 17 once again. My father felt strongly that young artists must be given opportunities to be mentored by established professional artists and to be given opportunities to represent themselves as artists to the public, ” said the WMAG director.

“The WMAG believes facilitating these relationships is part of its mission to provide opportunities to artists and provide the community broad access to original arts,” she added.

For more information, contact [email protected] or 739-6161.