The LHMS student artwork featured in this year’s Urban Air Art Fair in downtown Logan is on display at the Airstream World Headquarters in West Central Ohio. Each year a caravan of Airstreams land in downtown Logan to camp and promote the historic downtown area. The participants take part in local events and shop and eat downtown. Not only do they support the local economy, but they also are supporters of the arts. For the past three years the organizer of the Urban Air event, Kirk MacKellar, has provided the opportunity for Logan-Hocking Middle School students to participate in an art contest called the Urban Air Art Fair. Working closely with LHMS art teacher Suzanne Oldham they create a unique display of student artwork placed in the storefronts downtown. Suzanne works with the other art teachers at the middle school to create the artwork, and Kirk provides the paper and venue.
The pieces this year focused on the theme, “The Hills are Alive…”. Students came up with creative concepts to visualize the theme including hills with eyes, music, woodland animals, people dancing (including Julie Andrews), and Bigfoot even made several appearances. Through the process, they also learned about the history of Airstream campers, how to design a work of art to meet certain judging criteria, and how artwork can make connections to their community and beyond.
Judging of the artwork was performed during the Urban Air event by three professional artists who travel with the caravan. Donna Pellegata, a freelance illustrator and designer, Beverly Larsen, painter and muralist, and Chris VanWyck, Instructor of Media for the Interlochen Center for the Arts. The selected winners were Steven Ramey, 1st place; Kate Hipple, 2nd place; and Brelyne Edgar, 3rd place. Displaying the artwork in the storefronts allows the community not only to view the art, but to participate in the display by voting for their favorite piece. The creation that gets the most votes receives the People’s Choice award.
This year’s winner was Hayden Fouch.
“There are so many talented young artists in our schools and we are very fortunate to have such a wonderful community that supports the arts. Business owners, parents, relatives, and tourists all come together to contribute to the Urban Air Art Fair. It is a way to connect the students with the spirit of their small town community in the Hocking Hills, to the visitors that come to our area from all over the world, and to an iconic American company like Airstream.” said Oldham. “What an honor to display our students’ creations at the Airstream headquarters. This is the first time that they have showcased student drawings at their new facility and they are so excited to have it!”
The exhibit at Airstream was made possible through the workings of Kirk and Jay Cullis, who works as Airstream’s Content Manager. “There’s nothing like seeing a hundred Airstream travel trailers camping in downtown Logan,” said Jay, “and we’re so excited that these students have come together to create art in support of this fun event that celebrates the Hocking Hills region and Airstream – two Ohio icons! We invite everyone to make the trip to Jackson Center, Ohio and visit Airstream’s headquarters to view this art show, take a tour of our production facilities, and step back through Airstream history in our Heritage Center museum.”
The artwork will be on view at Airstream until the end of July. For more information, about visiting Airstream, scheduling a public tour of their production facilities, and touring the Airstream Heritage Center museum, visit airstream.com/company/factory-tours/ .
