The students of Fall Creek Junior High (FCJH) are currently sharing their artwork and creative expressions at the Art Gallery at City Hall, Fishers for their Embracing Black Culture exhibit, now through the end of March.
On March 11, just a month after their standing-room-only presentation guided by Travis Brown of Mojo Up and FCJH visual arts department chair Michelle Feeney, these students will become teachers as they take another step in using their student voice to lead.
According to Fishers Arts Council (FAC) Executive Director Les Reinhardt, FAC has always enjoyed sharing the artwork of students in our community. “These students have created powerful works,” Reinhardt said. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders – and offering a public space for student voice reinforces the point that their contributions matter.”
Reinhardt and the FAC board wanted to extend another opportunity for these students to step into leadership roles through their art. Working alongside Feeney, a plan was created for a “community canvas” painting project where the students would become the teachers. Giving students who are passionate about art the opportunity to engage and guide the public was something many of Feeney’s students jumped at immediately.
“As soon as I told the kids about it, they were so excited to participate,” Feeney explained. “They’ve been learning about Cubism and will be guiding guests on how to create their own painting to take home as well as contributing to the community artwork.”
Cubism involves bringing different views of subjects together in the same painting, which results in works that appear abstract or fragmented.
The community artwork will be a nod to the Great Squirrel Stampede of 1822, in which thousands of squirrels destroyed cornfields as they migrated West, against their natural path. The artwork will feature squirrels with Hamilton County landmarks in the Cubist style.
The community art project will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 11 in the Art Gallery at City Hall, 1 Municipal Drive, Fishers. The gallery will also be open for attendees to enjoy the students’ artwork alongside Alcove featured artist, Judy Mintze. Live music and refreshments will be available; some artwork will be available for purchase.
There is no fee to participate in the community art project or the personal paintings, and no registration is required.
For more information, email info@fishersartscouncil.org.
About Fishers Arts Council
Fishers Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to support, advocate, and cultivate visual and performing arts opportunities that educate and/or enhance the lives of those who live, work, and visit Fishers. Visit the art gallery at 1 Municipal Drive in Fishers, online at FishersArtsCouncil.org, or call at (317) 537-1670 for more information.