Huntsville, Ala – The Huntsville Museum of Art (HMA) will proudly present its 29th celebration of YAM 2016: Exhibition for Youth Art Month on Sunday, March 13, through May 1. Mayor Tommy Battle, Congressman Mo Brooks, Diana Green and Becky Quinn of the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA), and Marissa Garcia with Savannah College of Art and Design are expected to join HMA officials at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, for the award presentation portion of the opening day. The exhibition will showcase nearly 200 works of art by youth in kindergarten through grade 12. Schools from the following areas will be represented: Huntsville City, Madison City, Madison County, Athens City, Limestone County, Decatur City, and Scottsboro City.

From 12 to 5 p.m. opening day, the museum will observe a Community FREE Admission Day.

In addition to the students’ works in the galleries, HMA will also present the 17 Blue Ribbon Finalists’ artworks from the Visual Arts Achievement (VAA) Program. HMA is the local VAA District V sponsor for this ASCA program.

The selected VAA works by middle and high school students will be on view March 13 only in the museum’s Great Hall. The art will then be sent to Montgomery to be displayed alongside other regional winners’ pieces in the Georgine Clarke Alabama Artists Gallery at ASCA.

“Museum visitors are sure to be impressed by the fine artistic talents of the youth in North Alabama,” Christopher J. Madkour, Museum Executive Director, said. “This annual exhibit is an important reminder of the value of arts education for children and teenagers.”

On view in the Guild Gallery from March 13−May 1 will be the Congressional Art Competition’s winning piece created by a high school student chosen from Congressman Mo Brooks’ 5th District. Afterwards, the winner’s work will be sent to Washington, D.C., for a year-long display at the U.S. Capitol. Honorable mention pieces will be on display in the Great Hall on March 13 ONLY. They will then be sent to Congressman Mo Brooks’ office to be put on display for one year.

OPENING DAY SCHEDULE:

Museum Board President Richard Crunkleton, along with the museum’s board of directors, will host a reception for visitors from 1:30-3:30 p.m. During this time, visitors may also enjoy artists’ demonstrations by several Museum Academy instructors including Anna Sue Courtney (puppetry arts), Linda Ruhl (watercolor painting), S. Renee Prasil (drawing), and Robert Bean (portrait oil painting).

At 2 p.m. in its Great Hall, the museum will present the awards for VAA Blue Ribbon Finalists and the Congressional Art Competition winner.

Youth Art Month is observed nationally each March to emphasize the value of art education for children and to encourage public support for quality school art programs. Major support was provided locally by Presenting Sponsor Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. Additional sponsors include  Aero Thermo Technology, Inc., Cynthia and Rey Almodovar, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama,    Joyce Griffin, and Walmart. Additional support was provided by The Alabama State Council on the Arts and Alabama Alliance for Arts Education.

Youth Art Month is endorsed by The National Art Education Association, Alabama Art Education Association, Alabama State Department of Education, Alabama Alliance for Arts Education, and locally by the Huntsville-Madison County Art Education Association.

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