PASSING PALETTE Exhibit Comes to MCCC Gallery, 1/22

The Gallery at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) will showcase the talents of high school art teachers and their students in "Passing the Palette: Arts Educators and Students." This multi-generational exhibit will be on display from Monday, Jan. 22 through Thursday, March 8. The community is invited to an opening reception on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The MCCC Gallery is located on the second floor of the Communications Building on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Gallery hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. More information, including directions, is available at www.mccc.edu/gallery.

Among the participating high schools are Lawrence, Hopewell Valley, Trenton Central West, Allentown, and the Peddie School. Thirty works will be on display.

According to Gallery Director Lucas Kelly, the Gallery hosted a similarly-themed show several years ago that was well received. "An exhibit like this is important for students. In the classroom, they learn the foundations of creating art. In this exhibit, they have a chance to see how their teachers are applying those principles in their own work outside the classroom. Students will also experience the satisfaction of having their artwork recognized and displayed in a college gallery space."

Kelly adds that the exhibit reflects on the wealth of talent in Central New Jersey and the community's commitment to the arts. "These students are part of the next generation that will help the arts move forward. It's encouraging to see young people seeking to document this time in history through the arts."