Students create exhibit, calendar of Springfield park scenes

With chills in the air and mostly grey skies outside, imagining an afternoon in the park is a nice escape.

Project Jericho can make that happen every day in 2018 with Afternoon in the Park, an art exhibit inspired by changing seasons at local landscapes that also led to an original calendar. The exhibit will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Sara T. Landess Technology and Learning Center at Clark State Community College, 570 E. Leffel Lane.

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The community is invited and admission is free.

“The whole idea was to introduce the students to landscape painting,” said Lauren Houser, Project Jericho manager, who along with local lead artist Kristen Eisentrager took photos of Snyder Park in late summer to give a reference to the 12 students, teens ages 13-17.

They each randomly picked a month to depict, and as a further incentive, took a field trip on a chilly late October day to visit George Rogers Clark Park.

“In general, the kids were really willing to learn,” Houser said. “It was a new environment for them to create in, taking them out of their everyday atmosphere.”

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The students were also introduced to plein air painting, which is going outdoors to capture a scene live. They used acrylic painting on wooden boards.

All 12 paintings will be on display. Some commonalities can be seen, Houser said, as the students worked together and supported each other’s works.

“We’re all really excited for them to see their work on display, and this project really lent itself well to a calendar,” Houser said.

The calendars will be available at the exhibition for $10 apiece.

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The Project Jericho office will have calendars available for those who can’t attend as well. The office is located at 275 S. Limestone St. in the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center.

Revenue raised will go back into the program budget.

The exhibition will feature several of the artists and refreshments will be served. Several people from Clark State’s horticulture and agriculture programs who appreciate the landscaping in the exhibition have also been invited.

Afternoon in the Park will be on display at Clark State through January. This is the group’s last major project of 2017 and they will begin the New Year planning for new ones starting in February.

Project Jericho is a program of Clark State Community College supported through funding from Clark County Department of Job and Family Services, Clark County Juvenile Court, the Ohio Arts Council, the Turner Foundation and private contributions.


HOW TO GO

What: Project Jericho Afternoon in the Park exhibition

Where: Clark State Community College, 570 E. Leffel Lane, Springfield

When: Thursday, Dec. 14, 5 to 6 p.m.

Admission: free

More info: 937-328-3869 or http://www.project-jericho.com.

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