Student Art Works In A Museum Exhibit

The McDonogh School campus on a winter day.

Let's use our imaginations and imagine that any of us had had an opportunity for our art works to be placed on display at an art museum. That's not an everyday occurrence, even for an adult. Now, take your imagination and imagine that this happened to you while you were still in elementary school. Not at all common, but this happened for 27 lower school students at MCDONOGH SCHOOL, located in Owings Mills, MD.

The exhibition was coordinated by McDonogh's own Lower School art teacher, Joan Newcomer and Susan Dorsey of the Walters Art Museum, which was the site of the exhibit, which ran through Dec. 20. The exhibit also included art works by students of twelve other member schools of the ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT MARYLAND SCHOOLS (AIMS).



At the opening reception for the exhibit, which was held on December 5, former Head of the Lower School, Loreen Lidston, discussed the value of art education for children, "I would like to take just a moment or two to reflect on five of the many reasons why art education is important for ALL children in our schools, not just the ones whose artistic ability sets them apart from others.

"First art develops creativity and self expression - all without having to rely on spoken or written language. Therefore art is one of the first outlets open to children who think that grass should be purple or that a cloud should smile.,,,No speech is required to create art, especially the kind of art that leaves us speechless.

"Secondly, art teaches the value of work. Maybe that is why we call it artwork! It takes time and effort to finish a work of art, and in the process, the artist can learn a lot about the joy that comes from work done for its own sake and to the best of one's ability.

"Third, there are no 'right' or 'wrong' answers in art...or there shouldn't be....Nowhere else are boundaries so limitless, judgment so blind, and possibilities pasted with so broad a brush!

"Fourth, art is all about problem-solving. Artists must constantly ask and answer questions. 'How do I draw a dog with proper proportions?' 'What does anger look like?'...Nothing develops problem-solving skills faster than being left alone with an assignment and a blank piece of paper!

Fifth, and last, art is a powerful and potent venue for examining both human values and cultural differences. Themes such as 'home and family, work and play, nature and environment, beauty and ugliness, violence and love' (NAEA) recur in artwork from around the world and remind us of our shared humanity. Art's visual images teach us about the values that make us human and the cultural differences that make us unique."

Ms. Lidston's son, Colin Lidston, was previously a student of Joan Newcomer. She must have had an influence in inspiring him, since he had continued his education and received his BA from Rhode Island School of Design and then complete his MFA in painting from Indiana University in Bloomington. He is currently an art teacher at a charter school in Brooklyn, NY. When his mother asked him about the concepts he was teaching, what he was doing with his students, and what their art looked like, he responded, "Mom! It is children's artwork! It is beautiful!"

An overhead view of the crowd at the Walters to view the exhibition (top).

That statement by Colin Lidston could probably apply to the artworks created by the 27 lucky exhibiting students from McDonogh, with the addition that their talents lent the works that something extra. For part of December, Baltimoreans could share in that inspiration.

Art is an important part of the curriculum at McDonogh.

Thanks to this article from McDonogh School: https://www.mcdonogh.org/news/1923/503/walters-exhibit-celebrates-art-education-; and the above links.

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