May 4th First Friday- Celebrating Art Education

The public is welcome to First Friday on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 5pm until 7:30pm for art, music, free appetizers and a cash bar at Lakeside Legacy Foundation at the Historic Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake. This monthly gallery event is family friendly and free to attend. Stroll through the Dole and Sage Galleries. Lakeside Legacy is steeped in rich local history and art. The Dole Mansion was built in 1865 and the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park in 1922 was the original country club of Crystal Lake! Take in an evening of art, culture and learn more about local history!

The exhibits in the month of May feature artwork from the students of the District 47 Crystal Lake schools. The lobby features emerging artists and students of the Creative Artistry School of Fine Arts. Come experience and celebrate the talents of young artists! The May 4th First Friday event also features a performance by the Lundahl Middle School Choir Ensemble, and a performance by local resident Jazz Pianist Scott Tarson.

Lakeside Legacy Foundation has partnered with the District 47 art teachers for several years to put on this amazing exhibit of student art. Lakeside is a community center that cultivates art and music education. It is home to 20 resident partners who are visual and performing artists. Lakeside is also home to the McHenry Couty Youth Orchestra and on daily basis community members of all ages engage in art and music courses provided by the Lakeside Resident Partners. The May District 47 exhibits are highlight of the annual gallery schedule at Lakeside.  Sue Jensen, a District 47 art teacher, stated, “We are so fortunate to celebrate art in our elementary and middle schools on a daily basis because it provides students with an outlet for divergent thinking.  This is important in a world where creativity will be the edge that sets our young people apart from others.” She also stated that students are encouraged to use their creativity and experiment with a variety of art media, materials and tools.  For some, the art room is the only place they are allowed to paint, use glitter, mold clay and get messy.  For others, it is where students can truly blossom, because art engages and builds self-esteem. Students are required to create projects, design a plan and select a strategy to apply their newly learned skills to create a finished project. Sue said, “From the beginning days of kindergarten, young artists are exposed to simple art elements, such as line, shape, color and pattern. Their learning is continually reinforced and built upon as they progress through the grade levels and they use ever more complicated concepts and skills.  The end products are drawings, paintings, clay pieces, collages, paper sculptures, crayon resist pictures and multi-media pieces that are amazing works of art.  Please come help the community celebrate the talents and creativity of our young artists at our annual district art show.”

For more information on First Friday events, Lakeside Fest or Lakeside Legacy Foundation programs and studio rentals, please visit www.LakesideLegacy.org or contact Lakeside at 815-455-8000.