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Art world comes to CHS
By Courtney Burleson, Managing Editor
Fine art will now adorn the halls and classrooms of Columbus High School thanks to a Picturing America grant.
The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded CHS 40 high-quality reproductions of artwork from artists such as Norman Rockwell, Mary Cassat, John James Audubon, Winslow Homer and Albert Bierstadt. Images from the Great Depression and civil rights movements accompanied by images of great architecture such as the Brooklyn Bridge and New York landscape are just a few of the images CHS been awarded.
CHS was one of over 26,000 schools and public libraries across the nation who received the Picturing America program grant. It is a free initiative that helps teach American History and culture by bringing some the country's great art directly to the classrooms and libraries. The artwork touches on a wide range of subjects including America history, social studies, writing, literature and civics.
"It's a chance for students to see U.S. history through the eyes of artists," said CHS art teacher Paulina Kearney. "It makes history come alive."
CHS will keep the artwork on display for the 2008-09 grant period. A one-page final report is due to the American Library Association in May 2009. The artwork will be added to the school's permanent collections for future display and educational use.
CHS and Columbus Junior High School-Riverside campus librarian Ruth Partridge, who applied for the grant, said this is the first time she knows of the district has received a grant of this kind.
"I'm just so excited that we are going to be able to expose our kids to the art and American History," said Partridge.
The NEH will offer Picturing America to more schools and libraries in 2009. Applications for the program are due by Oct. 31 at PicturingAmerica.ne-h.gov.
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