Artist Lucy Meece's Celebration of Life: The Dance of the Water Spirits (Oil on linen)
Ten local artists teamed up with a dozen local students with mental and physical challenges to create a collaborative exhibit entitled “Side-By-Side.” The resulting artwork is on display at The Center for Rural Development in a new art exhibit.
Somerset Community College Assistant Professor of Art Darlene Libbey, SCC Director of Grants David Cazalet, SCC student Emily Williams, and EKU student Katie Whitt worked with the 12 student artists for four weeks.
During that time, the students explored various artistic mediums including collage-making and acrylic painting. Each student chose one of their individual, artistic creations for inclusion in the “Side-by-Side” exhibit. The parents of all of the students also participated in the art classes.
The 12 student artists are: Jayden Campbell, Cammie Henderlight, Bo Begley, Matthew Crawford, Dylan Rogers, Logan Osman, Adam Price, Grace Goff, Alex Truett, Kaydi Truett, Jeremy Slone, and Josh Bales.
Then, each student was teamed with a local artist. The local artists participating in the program this year were Peggy Sherry, Sue Burkett, Eileen Daniels, Emily Williams, Katie Whitt, Lucy B. Meece, Dianna Hacker-Taylor, Larry Weinstein, and Lorraine Fletcher. Together with their local artist partners, the students created a collaborative piece of artwork, which will also be included in the Side-By-Side art exhibit.
Finally, each of the local artists has selected one of their creations to add to the art exhibit.
The resulting collaborations; an individual artwork by the student, a collaborative artwork by the student and the local artist, and an individual work by the local artist, will be put together for the two-month art exhibit hosted by The Center.
“We have been partnering with VSA Kentucky for the past four years to produce this fascinating art show. It is always a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. Each time we do this the local artists find the experience of working with these young artists to be refreshing and fun.”
Darlene Libbey, assistant professor of art
Somerset Community College
The “Side-By-Side” project is a partnership between The Center, VSA Kentucky, and Somerset Community College. David Cazalet, the director of grants at SCC, was the coordinator of the 2012 Side-By-Side Project.
The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, may be viewed from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and during extended operating hours when The Center is open for special programs and events. The Center is located at 2292 South U.S. 27 (at Traffic Light 15) in Somerset.
For more information about the “Side-By-Side” exhibit, contact Dianna Winstead at (606) 677-6000.
