Nuwandart Gallery * 258 A Street, Suite 2 * Ashland, OR * 97520 * (541)488-4ART

June 2002

"AHS Art In"

Nuwandart will feature the art of Ashland High School students in its June exhibit, "AHS Art In," opening 5 p.m. First Friday June 7.

Live music and hip-hop freestylers highlight a full evening of entertainment at the opening, along with the a capella trio Tri-Angel, and the roaming weirdness of the acting duo, "Invisible Theater."

The show may have as many as 100 artists, said Robert Kuhn, and Ashland High student-teacher, SOU grad student and organizer of the event. Kuhn, also a member of the Nuwandart nonprofit collective, said he hopes the exhibit is a month-long art happening, and he invites performers, poets and freestyle rappers to share the open mic at the opening, and to share the gallery space throughout the month.

"It's all about giving high school students an opportunity to reach out and express themselves in the community as equals,"said Kuhn.

"And not egos," added his daughter, Kate, age 10. The two were painting one Sunday in May at Nuwandart, during an open painting class Kuhn hosts 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every week.

Kuhn said the exhibit will feature art from students in AHS classes taught by Goly Ostevar and Mark Schoenleber, and other teachers.

 

 

"This is just about celebrating their art. Some of them get political, but it's just art. It's the artwork of our fellow citizens and our children," explained Kuhn. "It's a meaningful reflection of our society and it's really inspirational and beautiful. The art is fresh and wonderful, just like our children."

"Ashland High School is really a good community resource and a really good gathering place," he said, and the exhibit will reflect that.

Nuwandart collective member Bryna Stallarow helped organize the entertainment, which includes hip-hop dejays on turntable and microphone, Eastern Sunz and Mr. Covac; a live heavy metal punk band; and a skateboarding demonstration by local skaters.

The local acapella group Tri-Angel will also appear throughout the opening, as will the bizarre theatrical stylings of jay Fenton's "Invisible Theater," and acting duo that coexists in time and space with the audience

Later in June, Nuwandart will add a children's art show of Peace and Poetry for art to be shown later at the Walk In Peace event at Jackson Hot Springs. The art will exhibit in the gallery June 17-21, preceding the Walk In Peace event.