Drawings by eight Norwalk students are among those featured in a special gallery show featuring 146 works by children from 18 countries, now open at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.
Students from Marvin Elementary and Roton Middle schools, as well as the Center for Global Studies at Brien McMahon High School, have entries in the International Children’s Art Exhibit, presented by Creative Connections of Norwalk now through Sept. 4. The exhibit is free because it is displayed in The Maritime Aquarium’s IMAX® Theater lobby, which can be entered without paid admission.
Theme of the 2017 show is “Team Up!” The drawings and paintings were created by children in Grades 3 to 12 who were asked – through Creative Connections’ ArtLink program – to draw and paint pictures that show “the many ways they or others in their country, community or families come together to achieve a goal.”
From the 5,000+ pieces submitted globally, entries for the Aquarium gallery were chosen by a panel of educators and artists for “the keen cultural insight each communicates.” There are works by students from throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut and around the world. Pieces are included from such countries as Uganda, Nigeria, Japan, Jordan, Cyprus, Russia, China, Sri Lanka, Guatemala and Brazil.
Previously, during the school year, art by the American students was exchanged with pieces by students from overseas, allowing insights into their partners’ cultures. Many schools also held videoconferences with an international school to share details about the project and themselves. Generally, the exhibit proves that moments or topics chosen as meaningful by Connecticut students – family, friends, traditions, faith and activities – are similarly important to children around the globe.
Exhibit sponsors include the Connecticut DECD’s Office of the Arts and the United States-Japan Foundation.
Creative Connections is a non-profit international cultural exchange organization that educates young people by encouraging their awareness, understanding and appreciation of other cultures as well as of their own. Learn more at creativeconnections.org.
For more details about other exhibits, IMAX movies, programs and more at The Maritime Aquarium this summer, go to maritimeaquarium.org or call (203) 852-0700.