Community center showcases Aurora high school students' art

Fox Valley Park District is commemorating Black History Month by featuring an all-student art exhibit at the Prisco Community Center.

The exhibit, showcasing original works by students from East and West Aurora high schools, is open to the public through next Thursday inside the center at 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora.

Parks Cultural Outreach Coordinator Bridget Johnson said she organized similar shows at a previous job and felt the exhibit would be an ideal way to keep the importance of the month in people's hearts and minds.

"As soon as we began planning our activities for the month, I felt it was important to have our local high school artists involved so we gave them the forum," Johnson said Wednesday. "It's great to witness how they see the importance of Black History Month through their eyes."

A majority of the exhibit's roughly 20 pieces are canvas paintings, but Johnson said a few non-traditional pieces feature slave-era quilts.

"Those are fascinating to examine once you realize that those quilts were how the slaves communicated with each other," Johnson said. "Some of them also served as roadmaps of leaving and escaping and those are motivational pieces as well."

The public can view and judge the pieces between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday.

A certificate of recognition and gift bag, donated by Aurora Premium Outlets, will be given to all participating artists. Winners will receive ribbons and Fox Valley Park District gift certificates.

Art show winners will be announced during the park district's sold-out Feb. 22 Black History Month Celebration featuring "KCR Ensemble," a nine-piece ladies jazz, blues and contemporary band.

The event also will include musical performances, oral interpretations and theatrical dramatizations by additional Aurora students.

In October, KCR Ensemble was the recipient of the African American Arts Alliance Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Jazz Music.

If you go

What: All-student art exhibit featuring the works of several area high school students and their interpretations of Black History Month.

Where: Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora

When: Through Feb. 21.

Cost: Free

Info: (630) 859-8606.