A unique perspective

Bureau County art teachers exhibit their personal projects

Story and photos by David Cook

Artist and teacher Kathy Ballard displays one of her ceramic creations.

When thinking of a school-age art class, the image of a room lined with similar yet slightly different art projects likely comes to mind. Art teachers routinely inform their students of a certain style or technique and then guide them through the completion of a project of their own.

To guide students through the artistic process surely requires those teaching to have some creative chops of their own. To showcase their talent, the art teachers of Bureau County, both current and retired, have once again come together to share their personal projects with the public.

From Nov. 1 to Nov. 27, the Princeton Public Library hosted a wide array of art for the public’s appreciation. Teachers Kathy Ballard, Joann Bowman, Susan Berry, Dana Collins, Linda Fine, Vicki Giehl, Sheila Heth, Julie Jenkins, Carol Johnston, Karen Klopcic, Amy Knapp, Cindy Smucker, Tara Washkowiak, and Karen Zeilman were in attendance at the

“I’ve always done art, and I wanted my students to gain an appreciation for it, to help them see the possibilities and know they can do it too,” Ballard, who taught art for 15 years in DePue, said.

Before her time as a teacher, she’d acquired a degree in illustration and had worked in professionally creative fields before returning to school to get another degree in education. Her favorite medium is pottery, but she still enjoys illustrative work and the ever-changing nature of teen culture.

Teacher Linda Fine also shared her outlook on the fine arts in schools.

“It’s important to have art available for all kids. The fine arts are sometimes considered to not be academic, but it’s such a necessity for

See Art page 19 Susan Berry is shown next to one of her striking skull paintings. Rather than symbolizing death, Berry creatively sees skulls as life-affirming.

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Hundreds of people attended the opening night reception for the teacher’s art show, the first such event at the Princeton Public Library since the beginning of the pandemic.

Teacher and photographer Sheila Heth points out some details of her work to admiring patrons during the Princeton Public Library’s teacher’s art show reception in November.

students to have that foundation,” Fine said. “I hope they can learn to enjoy their creativity and experience a lifetime love of new adventures.”

Giehl taught for 21 years in different Illinois schools, including 16 years in Princeton. She said she first learned of the existence of art teachers in the fourth grade when she was 9 years old, and after that day, her goal was to become one herself. Her favorite mediums are pastels, acrylic paints, and watercolors. Asked if there was a medium with which she struggled, she had an intriguing answer considering her favorite materials.

“Watercolors. I love them, but they’re a challenge, and I’m always learning more. I think anybody in art finds that,” she said.

All agreed the digital age is here to stay, for better or worse. While much can be created on a screen, several educators at the show said there’s no replacement for the hands-on, tactile approach to artistic endeavors.

“With the internet, there’s so much more available; there’s

“I was able to use it to get more into art history and make my students more aware that art could enrich their lives without even doing any art themselves,” Giehl added.

Jennifer Donnelly, the assistant principal in Ohio, attended the opening reception and appreciated the talent on display.

“It’s great to see the art teachers help students get excited about art so they can pursue their own passions,” she said.

Her son Tyler was also appreciative of the teacher’s personal creative projects.

“It’s honestly kind of amazing, much better than I could do,” he said.

Another student in attendance was Ella Entas, who had attended the classes of both Berry and Heth.

“This is a lot different from what you see at school. You can really see their personal style,” she said.

Princeton Public Library

See Art page 20 Teacher and artist Tara Washkowiak is seated in front of one of her dynamic designs.

The delicate watercolors of Dana Collins’ paintings, created while in a boat on the Mississippi River, perfectly captured the locale’s inherent beauty, and they were admired all night long during the well-attended teacher’s art reception in November at the Princeton Public Library.

curator Margaret Martinkus helped coordinate the show. A retired teacher herself, Martinkus’s husband is a retired drama teacher, and her son is also an art teacher.

“Art is part of the educational balance, it’s the expressive thing that helps teach students how they can be themselves. There’s so many techniques and varied styles on display here, and the teachers are all so humble about their talent,” she said.

While it can take young art students time to develop their skills, the library’s art show helps demonstrate what can be achieved with practice, creativity, and passion.

Teacher and artist Julie Jenkins stands next to her vibrant art that celebrates the natural world.

Throughout the evening, people were eager to view Susan Berry’s wire interpretations as well as her paintings.

Art on display at the Princeton Public Library’s teacher art show included ceramics, paintings, sculpture, jewelry, photography, collage, prints, and more.