Cosmic collection

Wright State University’s School of Fine and Performing Arts hosted an art show for struggling, first-time artists. But their struggle was with tying their shoes, not in their depictions of the solar eclipse and other celestial bodies.

Over 200 Mini University preschool students participated in a school art project to raise excitement and awareness of the total solar eclipse. Every classroom at the school participated, and students painted images of the sun, moon, clouds, planets and even rockets.

The April 11 exhibition titled “A Solar Show” was curated by Landon Crowell, a sculpture technician in the School of Fine and Performing Arts.

Crowell, whose children attend Mini University, was asked to assist the Mini University staff with a name for the project, which eventually led to him finding space in the Experimental Gallery in the Creative Arts Center and curating the exhibition.

“Maybe this will get some interest in the arts at younger ages,” said Crowell.

Britney Leavelle, the executive director of Mini University, also hopes the exhibition sparks an interest in art and plans to organize field trips to the Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries.

The one-day art show lasted just a few hours, but Crowell hopes the experience will impact the children as they grow up, even if they never become artists.

“Just being a person in society that appreciates art is important as well,” said Crowell.