For the month of April, the Westerville Public Library is hosting a living exhibit that celebrates middle school art in Westerville City Schools.
WCSD middle school teachers Juls Rathje and Bryan Pugh, as well as student-teacher Sydney Mitchell, set up displays that feature linoleum prints, portraits, artistic metalwork and other pieces created by seventh- and eighth-grade students at all four middle schools.
Rathje said she plans to bring new works to the exhibit, which will be on display through April 21. Among them: Pieces from Rathje’s Birds of Peace project with Hawthorne Elementary art teacher Liz Bash. As part of the project, fifth-graders in Bash’s art class and seventh-graders in Rathje’s art classes embossed metal foil to design 3D birds which will carry messages students will send to each other. The birds will be displayed on a 3D tree branch designed by a Genoa engineering teacher.
“We are always excited to share our community’s passions and creativity with library visitors,” said Tamara Murray, marketing manager at the Westerville Public Library. “It’s especially rewarding to amplify the work of students who are discovering their unique voices as they grow and learn. We hope that by providing an opportunity for students to introduce their art to a new audience will encourage them to continue developing their talents.”