15,16,17,18: BHS Selects from the International Collection of Child Art

15, 16, 17, 18: BHS Selects from the International Collection of Child Art is the culminating project for University Galleries’ inaugural Teen Arts group. Curated by the Bloomington High School students participating in the program, the exhibition presents a selection of 50 artworks from Milner Library’s International Collection of Child Art. The works were made by students ages 15, 16, 17, and 18—the same ages as the members of the Teen Arts group—from Thailand, Wales, Germany, Chile, Japan, and the United States. The BHS students developed the concept and structure of the exhibition, selected the artworks, determined the layout, decided on title signage, installed the exhibition, and wrote accompanying materials.

The year-long Teen Arts program focused on visual arts-based professional development opportunities and included monthly meetings and a field trip to Chicago. While in Chicago, the group met with artist Juan Angel Chávez, visited exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago, and met with the principal and a designer at Galambos + Associates, a visual communications firm founded by School of Art alumnus Luke Galambos. The Teen Arts group was organized by University Galleries’ director and chief curator, Kendra Paitz, in partnership with Kathleen Lonbom, Milner Library’s Art, Theater, and Dance librarian, and Monica Estabrook, Bloomington High School’s art teacher. The Teen Arts group was supported by a grant from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation—Mirza Arts and Culture Fund.

The International Collection of Child Art at Illinois State University “celebrates the creativity and innovative work produced by children with a global perspective” and “reflects the energy and inventiveness young artists bring to art-making.” The collection, which now holds more than 8,600 original works of art made by children from more than 50 countries, was initiated in the 1960s by F. Louis Hoover, distinguished professor of art emeritus and former University Museum director. In the 1970s, Barry Moore, professor emeritus of art, directed the collection and expanded its size and scope, including works by many young artists from other countries. The collection is located at Illinois State University’s Milner Library.

Events

• Friday, May 31, from 5 to 7pm
Opening reception

• Thursdays, June 6, June 20, and July 18, from 9:00-9:30am: Stroller tour
Bring your youngest art lovers to visit the exhibitions before we open to the public.

• Saturday, July 20, from 10am-11am: Family artmaking workshop
Meet University Galleries’ new Curator of Education and make a project inspired by the works on view.

Curator-led tours and workshops are available by appointment throughout the exhibition. Contact gallery@ilstu.edu or 309.438.5487. All events are free and open to the public.