UC CENTER FEATURES "WHAT FREEDOM MEANS TO ME", A COLLECTION OF CHILDREN'S ART

FRESNO - The UC Center, Fresno's winter Community ArtReach exhibit will feature the work of local children. "What Freedom Means to Me," a collection of approximately sixty watercolor paintings by fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students at Thomas Elementary School in Fresno, will be on display at the center from Dec. 6 through mid-February 2002. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the UC Center, Fresno (550 E. Shaw Ave., across from Fashion Fair Mall). The artists, their parents and the public are invited.

Students whose teachers recently participated in a professional development program sponsored by UC Merced created the paintings. The innovative program, produced jointly with the Central Valley California Arts Project for Thomas Elementary, incorporated each of the four art disciplines (music, dance, theatre and visual arts) into the appropriate grade level curriculum. Local teachers who are experts in their disciplines taught the workshops, which took place over six days from Dec. 2000 to May 2001.

Participating teachers took their newly acquired art knowledge back into their classrooms where students were asked to create a watercolor painting interpreting the theme of freedom and its personal meaning. More than 150 students created paintings.

"The Children's Community ArtReach project is a perfect example of the University and local schools working together to enhance the experience of K-12 students through teacher training and unique, hands-on classroom projects," said Diana Ralls, UC Merced's K-12 program coordinator.

Community ArtReach committee members selected ten paintings from each participating class for exhibit at the UC Center, Fresno. All selected artwork will be professionally mounted and framed for the exhibit. A certificate of recognition and a T-shirt from UC Merced will be presented to the students whose artwork was selected for exhibition. Additional awards will be presented to students for best of class, special merit and best of show.

UC Merced, UC Office of the President, UC Santa Cruz and the State Center Consortium sponsored the Children's Community ArtReach exhibit with support from Thomas Elementary School, Allard's Art & Office Supply and Morris & Co. Fine Arts.

"What Freedom Means to Me" and other ArtReach exhibits are open to the public during UC Center normal operating hours. For more information about the exhibit, please call (559) 241-7510.

For information about UC Merced's professional development programs, please call (559) 241-7400.

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