What Do Wet Chalk Dragons, South American Masks, and Gyotaku Fish Prints Have in Common?

Every year brings a new group of student artists presenting their work at the Edge Center Art Gallery in Bigfork. The shows are always full of color with plenty of variety. This year, however, there is something special about the art.  It is the last of the art done under the direction of retiring art teacher Roberta Steinhart. She is retiring after 22 years of art teaching at the Bigfork school and another 10 years at the Clinton-Grace school. So what DO wet chalk dragons, South American masks, and gyotaku fish prints have in common?  It is in the art...come and see for yourself. To see this exhibition, visit the Bigfork Art Gallery that is attached to the Bigfork School through May 20^th during the regular hours of the gallery which are Thursdays through Saturdays 10AM to 4PM each day.  There is no charge to see the exhibits. 

With this group of student artists, the Edge Center Gallery again exhibits the innovation best made possible with youngster's early encounters creating art. The young student artists learn the basics of color, texture, shape, line, plus dark and light as used in compositions as they are stretching their creativity.

The exhibit will evolve throughout the month to showcase newly completed work by elementary, middle, and high school students.

Students’ skills are on display throughout the exhibit: a study of contour lines in a sketch of a bee’s wing, an exploration of positive/negative space in a drawing of birch trees, a playful use of color and texture in a wall mount of a Seussian creature.

The show also highlights the role of art in classroom learning. This year, Steinhart worked with teachers Aimee Rahier and Michelle Carnahan to integrate art projects into the curriculum. As third graders read Charlotte’s Web and learned about the role of spiders in nature, for example, they also created web paintings using a watercolor wash with salt. “We work as a team,” says Steinhart. “It's a very unique way to teach art [and] we are very fortunate!”

The Student Art Show will remain open to the public through May 20. Says Steinhart, “The students take so much pride in their work. It’s a thrill to have their art [displayed] in a real gallery.” 

Thank you Roberta for your years of introducing Spring to the Bigfork area in such a colorful way with wonderful student art. Your first-of-the-season color in the gallery has always been a favorite for many. Enjoy the lake and the next part of your journey.

Admission to the exhibit is free, and the gallery is open during Edge events and on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..