Colorful Foundations!: 39th Annual School Art Exhibition

Center Space Gallery
March 3 – April 29, 2023

Adalyn Andersen, Cranky Lion, crayon and tempera, Jefferson Elementary School, Mason City – Kindergarten

Colorful Foundations! is the theme of the 39th annual Youth Art Month Exhibition at the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum, Mason City.  The display opens on Friday, March 3, 2023 in the Center Space Gallery.  This year the spotlight shines on students in grades K-4, celebrating their spontaneity and creativeness. 

Student artists whose artwork has been selected for the exhibition will be honored at a reception and recognition ceremony at the Museum on Saturday, March 4 at 11:00 a.m.  Certificates will be passed out at 11:30 a.m.  The reception will be hosted by Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary sorority for women in education.  The event is free and open to all.

This year’s exhibition features artwork from elementary school students at Jefferson Elementary School (Mason City), Harding Elementary School (Mason City), Hoover Elementary School (Mason City), Lake Mills Elementary School (Lake Mills), Lincoln Elementary School (Osage), North Iowa Christian School (Mason City), Rudd, Rockford, Marble Rock Community Schools (Rockford), Southside Elementary School (Hampton) and West Hancock Elementary School (Britt).

The purpose of Youth Art Month is to emphasize the value of art education for all students and to encourage support for quality school art programs.  Demonstrated outcomes of art education are the development of critical thinking skills, self-esteem, appreciation of the work of others, self-expression and cooperative working skills.  Art teachers from Central Rivers Area Education Agency, Clear Lake Regional Office schools were invited to enter artwork from their students.  Sixty artworks from nine schools were selected for this year’s show.  The exhibition is on display through Saturday, April 29.  The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum is free and open to the public.

Museum Hours: Tuesday, Thursday – 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday-Monday – Closed.