An Exceptional Art Show at the McKendree Gallery of Art, March 19-29

Artists are Local Special Needs Students

Lebanon, Ill. — An Exceptional Art Show at the McKendree University Gallery of Art will feature the work of students from Columbia School District #4 who have developmental disabilities and autism. The exhibit will be displayed from March 19 to 29. A reception will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 28 at the gallery in downtown Lebanon at 224 St. Louis Street. The exhibition and reception are free and the public is welcome.

Exhibit curator and former McKendree student Emmalee Shelton, of Columbia, is the founder of Autism Creates, an art therapy program. The program has grown to include students with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as autism. Shelton advocates for students with disabilities by providing them with opportunities to create and display their artwork as a form of communication and social skills therapy.

On Tuesday, March 26 at 6 p.m., she will give a gallery talk about her work with special needs students and their paintings, drawings, photographs, clay projects and sculptures on display.

For more information about the show and other upcoming exhibits at the McKendree Gallery of Art, visit www.mckendree.edu/artgallery.

 

-McK-