Vintage photographs from the book Rural School Journeys show what life was like in one-room schools in DeKalb County the first half of the twentieth century. Now you can see the schools through the eyes of children at an art exhibit, "Country School Memories" in the Blackwell History of Education Museum at Northern Illinois University.
Under the direction of art teacher Nancy Legner, students from Batavia's Elementary Schools sudied vintage photograohs, talked about life in one-room schools, then produced their own version of life in one room schools using mixed media paintings. The children not only learned about perspective and other artisitic techniwues, they learned about the value of historical preservative and what can be learned from artifacts like old photographs and a Sears Roebuck catalogue. Their paintings will be on display in the Blackwell Museum Saturday, March 31st through April 15th.
Nancy Legner was recently honored as Illinois Elementary Art Educator of the year and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where she recieved her M.A. and M.F.A. in drawing and painting. Currently, she is an art teacher at Louise White Elementary School where she has taught for the past 16 years.
The public attended an Opening Reception for the Art Exhibit in the Blackwell Museum on Saturday, March 31st. The Blackwell Museum is located in Gable Hall which is on Annie Glidden Road, directly across from Baker's Square. Students will be available to talk about their paintings and Nancy Legner will give a short talk about the art project and the importance of teaching the value of historical preservation.
For more information, call the Blackwell Museum at (815) 753-1236.