March is National Youth Art Month, and we’re celebrating this year with an exhibit of Yankton student artwork featuring our local middle school students.

Youth art exhibitions are presented all across the nation during the month of March to help celebrate the creative spirit of young artists and to recognize the vitality of America’s art education programs. Yankton Area Arts is hosting a reception from 1-3 p.m. this Saturday, March 6, at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery, where you can meet the teachers and students who are a part of this local art celebration.

For most shows, I traditionally introduce our featured artist here in the in “Art Forms” column. Since this exhibit is a cooperative project with Sacred Heart School and Yankton Middle School and there is a large number of contributors, I am taking a new approach in presenting our artists. Yankton middle school art teachers Charlene Arens and Marcia Olnes asked their students to provide us with their own statement on art. I really enjoyed reading all the different quotes and I wish there was room for all of them. Thank you to each of the students for participating! Here is a glimpse into the next generation of artists:

• “Art is amazing when I draw well …” — Kyle Katterhagen

• “Art gives us new creations and colors. Art lets the world become very beautiful.” — Laura Hebda

• “When I paint, my mind seems to leave and the art just seems to flow.” — Alex Crandall

• “When I paint, my mind is racing and I let the brush do all the work.” — J. J. Hejna

• “My favorite piece of art was in Kindergarten, when we got to paint with our hands and feet.” — Brooke Wuebben.

• “Art allows us to express ourselves and show how we’re feeling by drawing or painting.” — Joseph Welter

• “It’s amazing when I draw that the paper’s not entirely ugly.” — Will Steward

• “Art lets me expand my imagination and let go of everything else and just have some fun!” — Alex Dangler

• “Your imagination, a pencil and paper are the perfect tools for a great piece of art.” — Brooke Lange

• “Art is what is on your mind!” — Jennifer Feilmeier

• “Art is a way to express yourself freely without having to write an essay of some sort.” — Haley Conrad

• “It’s amazing when I draw that people recognize what it is!” — Tristin Baker

• “Art lets students express creativity otherwise not offered in school.” — Layne Droppers

• “Art is like the sun and moon of our earth; it’s the inspiring light that brings color to the world.” — Kamrie Mammola

• “Art shows emotions.” — Kevin White

• “I like art because it brings out the best in some people. To me art is a skill. It takes imagination and concentration.” — Tyson Saleman

• “It’s amazing that when I draw with just lines, the picture comes to life.” — Isaac Althoff

• “Why have art? Well if we didn’t have art the world would be boring and ugly.” — Hailey Bockholt

• “Art is important because you can express your feelings through art when your words and actions have failed to do so.” — Stephanie Kotalik

• “I like art because we can design different things and it doesn’t feel like we’re actually in school.” — Briana Brandt

Please take some time this Saturday to visit the G.A.R. Hall Art gallery and meet some of the students who are sharing their talent here at Yankton Area Arts. The show presents a wide range of student artwork and includes close to a hundred pieces. I am looking forward to meeting these young artists and invite you all to come and help support the arts in our community by supporting these students!

YAA Calendar of Events:

• through March 16 — Annual Youth Art Show featuring the works of Yankton Middle School students at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery.

• March 6 — Annual Youth Art Show Reception at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery, 1-3 p.m. Open to the public.

• March 19 — RiverWalk Sculpture Unveiling and Ariel Imagery Reception featuring the works of David Tunge at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Open to the public.

For more information on area art events, visit our calendar on-line at www.YanktonAreaArts.org.

The G.A.R. Hall Gallery and Yankton Area Arts office are located at 508 Douglas Avenue, Yankton. The gallery is open to the public free of charge from 1-50 p.m. weekdays and from 1-3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, please contact Pam Meylor, executive director, via e-mail at Pam@YanktonAreaArts.org or drop us a line at 665-9754.