Student and Staff Art Show Wows at Clare Gladwin CTE

By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY

Cleaver Managing Editor

For many years the 515 Gallery in Clare hosted an art show for area schools to showcase their talented art students. With the closing of that gallery Ian Humphres, art teacher at Harrison High School, began to brainstorm with other area art teachers to bring back a student art show.

“We really missed the 515 show, and we weren’t sure how to do it. I had an idea for a few years to do a staff show. I wanted the community to know that, yes, we are all about the kids, but we have so much talent in our community behind that.” Said Humphres.

Humphres and Amber Billman, visual arts teacher at Gladwin High School spearheaded the effort to create the combined show that began on March 6.

Ten artists from each school, Clare High School, Farwell Area Schools, Gladwin Community Schools, and Harrison Community Schools have art featured in the show as well as dozens of staff members. There are 62 entries and the art ranges across many mediums from painting, ceramics, sewing, basketweaving, woodworking and more.

Each entry accompanied the artist’s statement about the work. They varied from the whimsical to technical explanations of the work and how it was created. The statements were as interesting as the art itself and many visiting the show were obviously engrossed in reading about the artist and their work.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the kids and the staff that decided to participate. Doing something like this allows for the community to see the art beyond our display cases [at their respective schools]” said Humphres.

Hundreds attended the show and Humphres hopes this year gets the ball rolling and the show will grow each year.

The show and voting for your favorite art run through March 18 in CTE conference room at the John C. Magnus Center, 3200 S. Clare Ave. Clare. The show was sponsored by the Clare County Arts Council, Jeff Best of Devil’s Rope Studio, and the Gladwin Art Guild.

© Clare County Cleaver