Children in grades kindergarten through sixth are encouraged to get creative and draw a piece of architecture that has a fond memory for them. Maybe it’s the first day of school, an event at church or museum or maybe downtown or the library. Think of one of the beautiful public buildings and draw it by hand on the entry form. Feel free to use your favorite way of drawing – crayons, pencils, markers.
Official entry forms and guidelines have been distributed to the Clarke and Murray school district’s art teachers and home-schooled students. All entry forms must be signed by the child’s parent or guardian and returned to the student’s teacher by Wednesday, Feb. 25.
All children's art work will be publicly displayed in Murray and Osceola
from Feb. 26 to March 5. The entries will then be hand-delivered to Des Moines for the state-wide judging the following week.
"By asking children to draw one of their favorite cultural or historic buildings
in town, they will begin to look at and appreciate the architecture around them," said Mary Ellen Kimball, project chair for the Clarke Area Arts Council. "Students should feel free to use their favorite way of drawing – crayons, pencils, pens or markers."
Winners will be selected from nine regions in the state according to age groups.
Art entries will not be returned, although copies can be made prior to judging.
The “Architecture by Children Drawing Contest” is sponsored statewide by the Iowa Architecture Foundation, Holmes Murphy and Casey’s General Stores.
Local project supporters include the Clarke Area Arts Council and the Kimball Family Foundation. Additional information is available from Deb Jurshak at 641-447-2430 and Mary Ellen Kimball at 641-342-4272.
Clarke Area Arts Council joins others in the community interested in architecture. Molly Naumann, architectural historian, has been an “Artist-in-the-Schools” six times, increasing awareness of the area’s architecture and it’s importance in history, economy and lifestyle.