Creamery features high school artists in May

The merry month of May brings a delightful diversity of student artwork to the Creamery Arts Center's galleries.

The Churro gallery will feature excellent examples of art work by students at Hotchkiss High School, to wind up their school year.

And downstairs, in the Peach gallery, viewers will be treated to a collection of children's art lovingly purchased over the years by Connie and John Willitt, for their personal collection.

Everyone is invited to join in the public reception on Friday evening, May 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., and enjoy mingling with artists of all ages.

Jaimie Roeber, Hotchkiss High School's talented art teacher, exhibited her own work at the Creamery earlier this year. Regarding this new exhibit, she says, "Half of the high school education process is the experience. This will be our 4th annual Hotchkiss High School Art show. This is an opportunity for all of the art students to participate in the gallery experience. Students put their best piece from the 2011-2012 school year into the show. Then a group of artists is chosen to put the show up. Finally, all students show a little more creativity by making food for the gallery opening.

"We add one more twist to the gallery show: students get to make and experience the raku process.  All together, it's a night of celebration as we bring the year to a close."

Connie and John Willitt's collection of children's work emanates out of a love for art, and a remarkable dedication to the success and mission of the Creamery itself. John is the board president for the Creamery, and Connie is a contributing artist whose pillows, aprons and other hand-crafted objects often impart cheeky messages into their nostalgic charm. Among all the wonderful creations featured in the Creamery's on-going student gallery, which is curated and arranged by fellow devotee and artist Suki Strong, how do they manage to choose which pieces to buy?

Connie responds, "The diversity of the paintings and the age differences among the artists are some of the things we enjoy most. We have several eight-year-olds' and an 18-year old's work in our collection. Our first piece is a collage of parrots done by one of the early after school classes. As far as choosing which piece to buy, we don't; it chooses us. When we walk into the children's gallery, one or two of the pieces calls out to us. Then we have to decide which one we need the most. I have them all on the walls of my work room. When I become discouraged or have a block, I just look up and see all those great works and think 'you silly girl, you can do this.' We particularly enjoy the black and white works.  There is one artist who is 5, I believe, whose work we would love, but so far all her works have gone to family. We are patiently, well not patiently, waiting for her to saturate her market."

The Creamery is located at 165 W. Bridge Street in Hotchkiss. It is open Wednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information visit the website at creameryartscenter.org.

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