Byron’s Kogelheide Part of Matthews Hall Artistic Endeavours


Byron’s Kogelheide Part of Matthews Hall Artistic Endeavours
May 04, 2007
Your Village News
John M. Milner

Byron artist Jim Kogelheide was leading thirty international students at Matthews Hall last week in putting the finishing touches on the third and largest piece in a series of works that he has helped the students at Matthews Hall to work on over the past few weeks.

Each of the initial two pieces was worked on by students from Grades 1 through 8.  The younger students were set to work on simple portions of the painting to complete but with the older students, Kogelheide gave them a slightly more challenging task.  None of those students who worked on the piece were given anything more than Kogelheide felt that they could handle.

Kogelheide said his goal was to have each of those participants taking part in the artwork “to leave here with a smile on their face and knowing that they contributed to something wonderful” and “to leave here feeling successful as an artist.”

While taking part in the completion of the painting, the students are taught about the elements of art, with Kogelheide focusing on simple brush and stroke techniques and creating texture.  For many, this project represents their first time painting, and so they are taught about how to hold a brush and how to apply paint.

The project also teaches them how to break down a complicated issue.  Many of the students initially saw the painting as being very complicated, but Kogelheide showed them how to focus and concentrate on one smaller piece at a time.

Kogelheide says that this experience helps to encourage the children and make them feel confident about their artistic abilities.  “They all did a great job,” he says.

The third piece, entitled ‘The Tree Of Learning And Growth’ was completed by thirty international students who have come to Matthews Hall on an exchange program from Korea and China.  Kogelheide says that it was a “challenging work,” and at a size of 3 feet by 5 feet, is the largest canvas he has ever worked on.  The students put approximately 14 hours of work into the project.

Each of the young artists that worked on the piece signed their name, in their native script, around the outside of the painting.  Kogelheide felt that it was “an interesting concept to bring to this”, which leaves an indelible handprint to those who will view the painting in years to come.

After their work on the project is complete, Kogelheide gave gifts to all the young artists, including stickers and one of his art prints.  He says that the gifts are his way of giving the students something tangible with which to remember the experience in later years.

and see many photos of its creation.

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