Student Artists Honored at Blaine House

Emily Howell, Grade 12, Times Square
Emily with First Lady Karen Baldacci at the Blaine House Wedneday.

Augusta, ME – Young artists from schools across the state of Maine visited the Blaine House today where they met Maine’s first lady and received recognition for their participation in an art exhibition that will hang in the capitol complex through the end of January 2011.

Thirty students from schools that include Lubec Consolidated School, Fort Fairfield Elementary School, Bucksport High School, and Freeport Middle School were honored for their part in the Maine Youth Excellence in Art program. These young artists, whose work will brighten Maine’s corridors of power and oversee a change in administration, received certificates of excellence from First Lady Karen Baldacci honoring their achievement.

The Maine Youth Excellence in Art program was developed by Maine’s First Lady, working with the Maine Arts Commission, the Maine Alliance for Arts Education and the Maine Art Education Association. In the last five years this program has given young artists from Maine’s 818 public and private K-12 schools an opportunity to have their artwork exhibited in Augusta. To date, over 500 student works have been shown in the state capital.
Jonah Paris, Grade 8, September

“There is an immense amount of talent in our schools and showcasing student art is a wonderful way to create a vibrant space for our citizens and visitors to enjoy,” said Maine’s First Lady. “Everyone is thrilled to see the display of artworks created by our young artists.”

Visitors interested in seeing the works can find them located in the north and south corridors of the Burton M. Cross Office Building, the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee room, the Health and Human Services Committee room, the Governor’s Reception Area, the Office of the Speaker of the House, and the Blaine House. This is an ongoing exhibit and the next group of artwork will be put on display in early February 2011.

To access a digital gallery of the exhibition please visit MaineArts.com.
McKenna Robinson, Grade 2, Symmetrical Butterfly

All Arts in the Capitol events are free and open to the public. Visitors who require special accommodations are encouraged to call ahead. These exhibitions are a component of the Maine Arts Commission’s ongoing Arts in Education program. More information about the Maine Youth Excellence in Art program or other arts in education programs and grant opportunities managed by the Maine Arts Commission can be found at www.MaineArts.com.