The Annual Robideau/Lamitie-King MS & HS Juried Art Show Opens April 14

Celebrating its 17th year this Foothills ARTSociety sponsored exhibit will showcase the talents of Middle and High School students from 6 area schools. The schools participating this year are Brushton-Moira, Chateaugay, Franklin Academy, Holy Family, Malone Middle School and Salmon River. The Opening Reception is from 12 - 2:30 on Sat., April 14th on the third floor of the Wead Library with awards being presented at 1:00. The exhibit will remain hung during regular library hours until Sat, April 28.

The public is not only encouraged to stop in and view the exhibit but also, on the opening day from 10:30-2:30, to meet professional artist Geoff Cobb, enjoy selected works of his art on display and participate in a special soft sculpture workshop facilitated by Geoff. The workshop, jointly sponsored by Foothills ARTSociety and the Wead Library, is titled “Peas in a Pod” and will provide an opportunity for students and adults to be part of making “Peas with Personality” and sharing in the creation of a sculpture to be given to the Wead Library upon completion.

This annual exhibit is dedicated to the memory of Norbert Robideau, a skilled photographer whose fine photographs of the Malone community and it’s residents, over a 50 year span, added much to to the rich history of our village. The exhibit is also in honor of Karen Lamitie-King, a Malone Middle School art teacher for over 30 years who greatly influenced the lives of the students she taught.

Juror for the exhibit this year is 30 year professional artist Elaine Taylor who has recently moved to the North Country. Elaine’s current work includes large scale installations and playful sculptures and drawings. Commenting on her work, Elaine says “throughout my artistic life there are several common threads: a call to the viewer to be aware of their surroundings, whether physical, social or geopolitical; a need to reuse and recycle; and a love of the minimal, best represented by use of the circle and line.“ Elaine has an MA and MFA in art from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ms. Taylor teaches art and computer graphics at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake and Malone.

On display on the third floor of the Wead Library will be approximately 125 works of art chosen by art teachers from the 6 area schools. Samantha Clooney, a 6th grade student from Brushton-Moira, won the honor of having her Mixed Media creation titled “In the Flowers” as the cover of this year’s invitation. At the Opening Ceremony awards will be presented at both the Middle and High School levels in the categories of Drawing, Painting, Sculpture and Mixed Media. Middle School award winners will receive art supplies. High School award winners will receive an engraved wooden plaque with a photograph of their award winning entry. All students entering the exhibit will receive a participation certificate and can be very proud for having their art work selected to hang in this annual show.

Also presented at the Opening Ceremony each year is the Lamitie-King and the Foothills ARTSociety Scholarship. At the end of the reception a raffle drawing will take place for the winner of a large acrylic painting “Floating Flowers” donated by Arnold Sauther. Proceeds help support Foothills ARTSociety children’s programing. Presentation of awards, scholarships and drawing of the raffle will begin at 1:00 on Sat., April 14.