Welcome Back!

The 09-10 school year is off and running and so is the RIHS Art Club. We held our first meeting of the year last Thursday morning in the art room with approximately 20 students in attendance. This first meeting gives students a chance to learn more about Art Club and what we do throughout the school year. Each student in attendance received the following information sheet.

The RIHS Art Club is open to all students who are currently enrolled in an art class or have completed one year of art.

The purpose of the Art Club is to encourage students with an interest in the visual arts to become/stay involved in art related activities.

Art Club meets every Thursday morning at 7:50 in the high school art room.

All members are expected to attend weekly meetings. A member is allowed three absences for the year. Absences due to sickness are not counted. If a member has a conflict with the meeting time, he or she must notify Mr. Ackman as soon as possible.

Art Club dues are $10 per semester ($20/year). This money is used for the end of the year field trip.
Activities for the year include the following but are not limited to:

Artist of the Month – Each month, beginning in October, art club members are encouraged to submit up to four pieces of art work to be considered for selection as artist of the month. Selection is based on a vote of all members in attendance. Mr. Ackman does not vote.

Artist of the Year - In May, all previous winners of Artist of the Month are allowed to submit their artwork for the prestigious Artist of the Year Award. The winner of this award will have one work of their choice framed and mounted in the hallway. The winner also receives a prize package of art related supplies and materials.

Homecoming Float - The Art Club designs and builds a float entry for the annual Smiles Day Parade held each September. Members typically meet from 3:30 – 6:30 pm at the Schuyler County Fairgrounds Merchant Building the week of homecoming to complete the float.

Annual Christmas Party- This popular event includes a wide variety of food and activities. Members are encouraged to participate in the white elephant gift exchange. This is just for fun and typically a max dollar amount of approximately $2.50 is set for the purchase of a gift. We also play kickball, dodge ball and the ever popular hide and go seek.

Annual Fund Raising Events - Typically we conduct two fund raising activities. One is based on the sale of a product and the other is usually an auction of art work created by members of the Art Club. All members are expected to participate in all fund raising activities

Winter Art Exhibit - This event is typically held in late January at the Phoenix Opera House in Rushville and is sponsored by the Schuyler Arts Council.

Set and Props for the Annual Musical – Art club members are encouraged to help out with a variety of art related items including the set and props, for the annual musical conducted by the RIHS Drama Department.

Late Night Art Event- This is an evening when members may come to the art room and work on whatever they choose. This event is usually from 7-midnight.

Conference Art Show - This is an exhibit that is on rotation with the schools currently in our conference. Last year this exhibit was held at Nauvoo-Colussa High School. This is a juried show with awards for first, second and third places.

Annual Schuyler – Industry District Art Exhibit – This exhibit typically takes place in late April or early May in the High School Gymnasium. All members are strongly encouraged to help with the set up and take down of this exhibit. During exhibition hours art club members also handle all aspects of the Peoples Choice Award.

End of the Year Field Trip – In late April or May the Art Club takes the Amtrak to Chicago to visit the Museum of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art along with a variety of stops throughout the city. This is a one day trip. A minimum number of points must be earned in order to partake of this trip. The point system will be discussed in an upcoming meeting.

Tomorrow morning we will meet again and begin the process of planning our annual float entry for the Smiles Day Parade. More details to follow.