Arts Alive Kids' Art Rocks! gallery show at Tibbits Opera House celebrates the work of student artists during May and June, culminating with a reception in their honor at 6pm on Tuesday, June 27.  

The juried exhibit features 137 pieces of student artwork on display. Of these, 16 were chosen for the final lease program exhibit. They have been professionally framed and available for lease by area businesses to display for one year. 

Lease program winners feature students from preschool through high school. They are Preston Perkins from Anderson Elementary; Pearl Gutierrez and Caroline White from Ryan Elementary;  Blakleigh O’Dell from Lakeland Elementary;  Margaret Heminger from Max Larsen; Felicity Berry and Liam Willison from Jennings Elementary; Tia Obare from Jefferson Elementary; Caiden Searing, Claire Stroup, and Gemma McVicker from Legg Middle School; Charlotte DeGraff from Battle Creek Lakeview; Shakurah Muqit and Morgan Baker from Coldwater High School; Allie Jameson from Will Carleton Academy; and homeschooler Iain Gaebler. 

Reception doors open at 6pm for viewing and People’s Choice voting during the open-house style gathering in the lower-level art gallery. Light refreshments will be provided. The presentation of prizes and art supply giveaways for young artists in attendance will begin around 6:45pm on the terrace in front of Tibbits, weather permitting. All artwork not chosen for the year-long lease will be available for pickup immediately following the reception. Businesses that attend the reception will have first choice of artwork for the lease program. 

The gallery shows rotate approximately every six weeks in the lower level art gallery of Tibbits Opera House, located at 14 S. Hanchett St. in Coldwater, Michigan. There is no charge to view the gallery, which is open before and during all Tibbits events or by appointment Monday-Friday 9-5. Once the Kids’ Art Rocks! gallery show concludes, local artists are invited to participate in “Decades”, “Cardboard Creations” and “Miniatures”. Details on gallery exhibits and submission details are available at Tibbits.org or at  the Arts Alive Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Arts-Alive-Coldwater. 

Cutline: Student artist Lincoln Clark poses with his winning 2022 Kids’ Art Rocks! Submission, “Rexy”. The annual Kids’ Art Rocks! contest, which will be on display in the Tibbits Art Gallery in May and June, will conclude with an artist reception on June 27.