Tecumseh High School students showcase art at library

A group of Tecumseh High School students are currently displaying their artwork at the Tecumseh District Library through March 30. The featured artists are students of Christine Obeid, who said she chose each piece featured in the show due to excellence. Paintings, drawings and other art mediums are featured in the show. Eighteen students total are participating in the showcase.

Anne Flora, president of Community Arts of Tecumseh (CAT), helped organize the show with Obeid. Flora is in charge of the art exhibits at the library, and manages revolving showcases that change every three months. Some artists previously featured in the library exhibits include Pamela Purk and Jean Lash. Flora thought it was a good idea to showcase the artwork of students in the Tecumseh area.

“CAT is very interested in the school system, and we thought showcasing student art would be a great way of letting the public know what’s happening in the schools,” Flora said. “It’s different media, including watercolor, acrylics, ceramics, fiber art, pencil, charcoal and oil.”

Flora said that art is critical to a student’s development and ability to survey the situations they face in their daily lives. “The exhibit shows a wide range of how students view their world,” Flora said. “Art is important because it’s a discipline. The students need to observe what’s around them and interpret that. Using imagination and emotion, which are things which are sort of intangible, is really important to a young person’s growth and maturity.”

There should be a heavy focus on art in schools, Flora said, supported by the community. “In this town, there has been a heavy focus about traditional academics and sports, and often the arts are neglected,” Flora said. “The public really needs to understand there’s some really good work out there that these students are developing. It’s another facet of their growth, and through art we promote cultural awareness.”

Flora calls for a higher appreciation of the arts, as well as better financing for school art programs. “I think with the funding for art programs in the schools being reduced, it’s important for parents and the community in general to support the arts,” Flora said. “They need to know it’s important to offer their children supplemental art experiences. CAT offers classes, workshops and member gatherings to interested folks in the community.”

More information on CAT can be found at tecumseharts.org, or by calling 423.0000.