New Depot exhibit spotlights art teachers

Mike Marsh, director of the Sikeston Depot, hangs an exhibit in the main gallery at the museum. The first Art Teacher's Art Show is on display now, and will be until the 34th Annual High School Student Art Show in March.
(Photo by Michelle Felter, Staff)

SIKESTON -- The stated mission at the Sikeston Depot includes proving opportunities for people to display their artistic creations.

And Mike Marsh, director of the museum, said the newest exhibit fits perfectly into that description. The Depot's first-ever Art Teachers' Art Show is now on display at the main gallery. The 50 or so pieces of educators' personal works will be on display through the end of February.

"This just seemed like a natural to me," said Marsh. "Art teachers really teach by doing and it's always nice to see the product of a teacher's skills -- we often don't get to see that."

Darla Roberts, an art teacher at Sikeston Senior High School, is one of the participants. She entered a half dozen pieces and said she was excited about the prospect once she heard about the new exhibit.

"I just thought it was a neat idea and would be good for the students to see some of the teachers' artwork," she said. "They see some in art class, but not a lot."

So far, four other teachers -- from Sikeston, East Prairie, Hayti and Saxony Lutheran -- have entered pieces in the show. Others, including art teachers from New Madrid and Jackson, missed the deadline and will make late entries, said Marsh.

"Over the holidays, several teachers forgot," he said. "But they can still call and enter."

There is much variety in the entries.

"It's mostly paintings, but we also have photography, pen and ink, mixed media and more," said Marsh.

Several pieces are batik -- an art form in which fabric is dyed in special methods using wax.

"I love this stuff," said Marsh, pointing to one of the batik entries. "There is a real technique."

He is also drawn to a mixed media piece, in which the artist uses pieces of a mirror to create the image. "Those are really neat," said Marsh.

More than half of the pieces are also available for sale. Marsh said those entering could choose to list a price, which is included on the tag identifying the piece and its creator.

Roberts said she plans to visit the exhibit to see what other teachers are doing.

"I think I'll learn new techniques, as well as different project ideas for the students and myself," she said. "There's always something new out there."

Marsh said he came up with the idea after last year's student art show, which is set to begin in March this year.

"Some of the teachers and I were brainstorming on ways to make it better," he said. "After they all left, I thought it would be kind of fun if we had a teachers' art show, too, so people can see what the teachers do."

The motive behind the teachers' exhibit was twofold, Marsh admitted.

"They'd have a chance to show off their work, and when they come to pick it up, they can bring the students' work with them," said Marsh.

Roberts said she will encourage her students to attend the show, and hopes the exhibit will "get them pumped up for theirs."

The student art show, which will mark its 34th year, always draws a large crowd of visitors, said Marsh. He said he hopes to see a good turnout and response to the art teachers' show, too.

And as the student art show has grown through the year, Marsh wants the teachers' exhibit to have the same result. "We're hoping to grow this every year, especially to the schools closest to our museum," he said, noting all teachers in the southeast Missouri area are invited to enter items. "I've had several tell me they couldn't enter this year, but want to next year."