Art teacher and painter, Veronica Piastuch is pleased to announce an art exhibit of her students’ work from July 2, 2004 through September 1, 2004 at the Kimo Gallery, 423 Central Avenue NW, Albuquerque, NM. The opening reception is Saturday, July 10, 2004 from 10 AM to 12 Noon. “This exhibit features the theme “Young at Art” which plays upon the ages of the children and the thought that making art keeps one young”, says Piastuch who turned 50 last September. This year is the first year she is exhibiting with her 36 students, ages 8 through 18, in their history of exhibiting yearly since 1997. Prior to the upcoming Kimo show, her students had a yearly exhibit at Explora! Her students often grace the covers of NM KIDS magazine. “My students are the future adult artists of the world and I feel it is important for children to be able to have their own exhibit in a non-competitive setting. I fully believe that making art that they feel good about, is its own reward.”

Ten years ago Piastuch started offering small art classes for children whose parents’ deemed art necessary to their child’s education. She has a dedicated classroom studio in her home just for her students. “Art is crucial in developing higher level thinking skills and the ability to problem-solve. All children are great artists. Unfortunately it is not something that is nurtured in this society or greatly supported in public schools. Children lose their ability to create or put on paper what exists in their minds or dreams. Art teaches children to think “outside the box.” The children I teach own all of their ideas and creative decisions. They rarely have artist’s block. I help facilitate the creative process by offering them knowledge about techniques, drawing, materials and visual concepts in small groups. They have developed a love for oil painting using water miscible oils. We follow the great master approach to painting. They plan their paintings first often using grids for accuracy, transfer their art to canvases, brown line the art, tone the canvases, sometimes paint first in tones and then apply the paint either opaquely or by glazing. At other times they paint impressionistically. I do not see why children can’t use the same techniques that adults use. We are constantly working on positive/negative space, composition, contrast, values and subject matter. The students also learn how to handle art materials safely. This year, quite a few of my older students dedicated most of their time on one painting. Some are even choosing to pursue careers in art. Caitlin Moss worked in a graphics firm last summer, Noel Beauchamp is going to art college and TM Keegan worked on computer art for the NM digital Pueblo Project. Marron Cooney received a commission this year painting her friend’s dogs. She combined images and created something new. Elise Gurney’s art will be on the July/August NM KIDS magazine and Caitlin Kelly’s self portrait will be on the cover of the Family Phone Directory published by NM KIDS.”

“What is unique about my classes is the sense of community that has grown between the students and the parents; with one another and with me. My classes have become a safe place where ideas flourish. My students have formed close social groups in which kindness, support, tolerance and respect are the norms. It is a microcosm of the world we all want. Some of my students I have had since age 7. I literally have watched them grow up and find their way in the world.”

Piastuch studied art at CCNY in NYC with master artist and mentor Bill Behnken. At CCNY, painter Jay Milder was another of her teachers. In a recent conversation with Behnken, Piastuch said he really liked what her students were creating. Piastuch exhibits with her Spiritual Odyssey Group both in Albuquerque and Taos. She used to do group shows in NYC when she lived there. She teaches community workshops at the South Broadway Cultural Center as well as exhibiting there.

While painting in oils for the first time, Miranda Lewin, age 8, the newest member of the group, said “I was born to do this.”