School News
- Last Updated on Saturday, 30 September 2017 15:47
Rep. Bud Cook (R-Washington/Fayette) and James Denova, vice president of the Benedum Foundation, held a news conference at Bentworth High School to officially announce that both the Beth Center and Bentworth school districts have each received funding to host two full-year teaching artist residencies.
Through the generous support of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the funds were made available to both districts from the Rural Arts Collaborative – Arts Education Project, which is one of the initiatives of the Fayette County Cultural Trust.
“We are truly grateful to the Benedum Foundation for funding these projects in both school districts,” said Cook. “The students will be exposed to a beneficial arts education experience, while at the same time, help to beautify their communities with public art. These programs will enhance and continue to improve the quality of life in our region, assisting our efforts to attract both employers and employees to the 49th District.”
Beginning in September, each teaching artist will spend an entire year working on their projects with a lead art teacher and students in the classroom. The final works of art will eventually be installed in public spaces in and around the Bentleyville community.
Beth Center is hosting silkscreen artist Codi Yoders, who will work with high school students to produce a variety of different conceptual silk-screened pieces for both indoor and outdoor installation. Yoders has worked with students through the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
Bentworth is hosting Japanese watercolorist Hiromi Katayama, who will work with high school students to produce large connecting thematic panels of artwork created in the traditional Japanese watercolor method. Katayama has been recognized locally and nationally for her unique, yet traditional style, and some of her student artwork can be found at various sites in the city of Washington.