Three showing at special art exhibit

THOMPSONTOWN -- Three students at Thompsontown-Delaware Elementary School have been selected for the Pennsylvania Art Education Association's Youth Art Month Exhibit to be held at The Pennsylvania Department of Education building in Harrisburg.

The students are Cadee Becker, sixth grade; Clark Ritzman, sixth grade; and Autumn Fronk, fifth grade. Their art teacher Rachel Shepler.

March is Youth Art Month, which emphasizes the value of the visual arts and art education. YAM also encourages support for quality school art programs and celebrates with opportunities for all children in the arts.

The exhibit runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., now through April 20, and showcases visual art selections from youth all across Pennsylvania.

Shepler is a member of the PAEA at the state level and the NAEA at the national level, and actively supports the arts in education. The Pennsylvania Art Education Association supports and promotes visual art education through professional development, leadership and service. The PAEA is organized by regions in the state. Each region is a grouping of several counties and has a regional representatives who are members of the governing board of PAEA. Juniata County School District is in Region 4, composed of Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata and Mifflin counties.

A casual reception for artists, family, friends and teachers and will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., March 10, at The Pennsylvania Department of Education, 333 Market St., Harrisburg. Awardees will be recognized at 1:30 p.m. The most convenient place for families to park is in the Chestnut Street Parking Garage, connected to the back of the 333 Market St. offices. This is a pay to park garage. There are elevators from this garage that lead to the main entrance of the building. The PAEA will have directional signs posted during the reception. Families should be aware that street parking fees for the city of Harrisburg are in effect until 7 p.m. on Saturday. For those parking on the street, stairs to the lobby level are located on Fourth Street. Families will be buzzed into the lobby of the 333 Market St. building by security, asked to sign in and show photo identification upon entering. Once inside, take the back elevators to the first floor. All the art is located in the Honors Suite on the first floor. Volunteers will be on hand to ensure that families can easily find the exhibit.

"I would like to thank my students and parents for participating in Youth Art Month and I'm very excited to have the Juniata County School District represented at this exhibition," Shepler said.

In addition to the exhibit in Harrisburg, student work will be on the PAEA website at www.paeablog.org. Navigation on the site is Student Opportunities>Youth Art Month>Digital Youth Art Month Show>.

For more information about PAEA or info on the exhibitions go to http://paeablog.org/opportunities-for-students/youth-art-month/