Fresno Met remembers MLK with students' art
Katie Hicks / The Collegian
This torn paper art piece by third grader Michelle Xiong of Sierra Vista Elementary is one of many local youths’ work on display at the Fresno Met. |
By Katie Hicks
The Collegian
An annual youth art exhibit dedicated to the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a great way to honor a man who devoted his life for all human kind said Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi, chair of the Africana and American Indian Studies Department at Fresno State.
“Dr. King was not just for African Americans,” Oheneba-Sakyi said. “He was for all of God’s children; black, white, brown or any color. He was for human rights and human dignity.”
The exhibit hosted by the Fresno Metropolitan Museum has been going strong for more than 15 years said Diadre Metzler, director of education for The Met.
“The idea behind this is to emphasize the importance of, and value and richness of a multicultural community,” Metzler said.
“It’s not just about Martin Luther King, it’s about freedoms, inclusion and breaking down barriers for a unified community, not only in our community but globally,” she said.
Each year the Fresno County Office of Education sends out an invitation to all of the K-12 schools in the district inviting them to participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. competition, Metzler said.
Hundreds of entries are judged by local art educators and community members who regularly support the arts and then the top 50 entries are hung on the wall in The Fresno Metropolitan Museum, she said.
This year the art is being housed in the Reeves ASK Science Center located at 933 Van Ness Ave. while The Met is under renovation.
The walls are filled with the work of talented artists of all ages and skill levels. Paintings of African Americans marching alongside Martin Luther King Jr. are hanging next to symbolic collages and portraits of peace and equality.
Metzler said funding for art education has been severely impacted over the years so The Met tries to sponsor events like the MLK exhibit to allow teachers and students to not only explore the world of art but also to direct the pieces that they make to an extremely important theme.
During the renovation museum docents will also bring art lessons for students in the first through third grades to their classrooms.
The art will be on display at the Reeves ASK Science Center Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with special hours on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Feb. 27.
A special reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 9 at the science center. At the reception groups of local talent will entertain the visitors and winners of a recent Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest will read their essays.
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