The Penn Art Gallery is Open and Seeks Student Docents

The Penn Kingsmen Art Gallery here at Penn is a unique and valuable piece of our school.  The gallery displays student work, along with art work from professional artists.  Penn is lucky to have an art gallery of this caliber, as it is a space not many schools in the state of Indiana have.

Mrs Barb Miller, the gallery director told PNN, “Every year I hope we get more visitors than we did the last.”  Miller also explains that she feels the gallery is under used, but she want to see the gallery used more often.  “Because we have so much here that really deserves to be seen.”

Students may freely view the Kingsmen Art Gallery every day during school hours, and every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, after school, until 4:30.  “It gives students the opportunity to see professional shows right here in our building as well as our fabulous student artwork.” Miller told PNN.

Viewing of the Art Gallery is open all day in school, but it is recommended that students come to view the Kingsmen Art Gallery during their study hall, during their lunch or student’s can even come view the gallery as a class.  The gallery as well offers writing prompts, so that students, with teacher approval, may write in the gallery to earn extra credits in a class.

Kingsmen Art Gallery also gives students an opportunity to volunteer as Gallery Docents.  This program gives students the ability to work in an art gallery setting.  The program has already allowed students to obtained skills and jobs in the professional field of art.  Volunteer hours worked in the Kingsman Art Gallery can also be counted towards National Honor Society and Key Club.

Two Docents need to be present in the art gallery at all times to keep the gallery open.  Their job is to welcome visitors, protect the art and help in any other way possible.  And when the time comes to change the exhibits, Docents will assist Miss. Miller in moving and displaying artwork.

PNN spoke with a current student docent, Mia Hamdan from the class of 2019, about her experiences in the docent program. “I watch over and make sure no body messes with anything,

“Mia said. “I get to help out as much as I can.”

The current exhibit in the Kingsman Art Gallery features Encaustics & Drawings by Carol L. Meyer and Ceramics by Andrew Tomasik.  This show opened on September the 19th, and will remain open until November 1st.  There will be one more show, also featuring professional artist, in the first semester, and three shows of student artwork will fill the second semester.

“I joined the docent program to get a feel for people who have a different style in art.” Mia says, “Whether it be in painting, water color, ceramics.”  And anyone who visits the gallery can have the same fine art experiences as the docents.