High school students from all over the region came to IU South Bend on February 29 for Fine Arts Day. Fine Arts Day is an annual event that allows students to get a first-hand look at what a college-level art class is like and possibly one of their first experiences of art outside of their high school. It also provides these students a way to network with one another, building friendships outside of their normal classes.
The day started off with a meet and greet in the gallery which allowed the high school students to familiarize themselves with faculty. They also had the chance to see the Student Exhibition, which showcases what the IU South Bend Fine Arts students are working on throughout the year.
The students had the choice to participate in a portrait drawing workshop with Professor of Painting and Drawing Ron Monsma, a sculpture workshop with Professor of Sculpture Brian Hutsebout, or a comic strip drawing workshop with Professor of Graphic Design John Thompson.
“Every spring for Fine Arts Day I do a portrait drawing workshop with charcoal on toned paper. We have a model come in, and this year was Kolton [Sizer, BFA Painting and Drawing ‘19], and the students get to draw a portrait from a life form,” Professor Monsma explained. “The students love this workshop because most of them draw portraits with pencil and from photographs. So this allows them to experience something they might not get the chance to while in high school, and it allows the students to see space and draw with dimension.”
After the workshop, the high school students had lunch and had the opportunity to tour the rest of the IU South Bend Campus. Although this year had a smaller number of attendees, the Fine Arts faculty still deem it as a success as it allowed students to have an inside look at what it means to be a Fine Arts student at IU South Bend.
Post written by Kate Luce
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