The 17th annual “It’s Not Elementary” exhibit opens Thursday, Feb. 1 in the Benedict Hall Gallery at Sweet Briar College. The exhibition features artwork by preschool and kindergarten students from the Sweet Briar Campus School.

“A Rainbow Flower,” by preschooler Caitlin Driver. “Everybody always enjoys this show,” Nancy McDearmon, registraral assistant for the Sweet Briar galleries, said. “It’s so cheery to have it in the winter. You feel like spring is on its way. … We get more comments from this show than most any.”

The colorful artwork, with simple titles such as “A Rainbow Flower,” “My Family” and “A Monster,” will be on display through Sunday, March 11. The exhibit is open to the public and admission is free.

“They look like they have so much fun when they paint. Joy comes off the paper.” McDearmon said of the tempera paint masterpieces.

McDearmon, who taught art in the public schools for 22 years, also called some of the pieces “remarkable” for children so young. As an example, she pointed out “A Monster,” a swirling mass of red and purple created by preschooler Colton Stinnett.

“A Monster,” by preschooler Colton Stinnett. She said Colton’s piece is “rather different” than what you’d see from most of his peers because, unlike most preschoolers, he painted all the way out to the edge of the paper.

For the past two years, “It’s Not Elementary” has been organized by an arts management student. This year, sophomore Meghan Kaminski is at the helm. She is using the experience to satisfy an internship requirement for ARMG 105, “The Arts Organization APLOMB: Audience, Program, Leadership, Outreach, Mission, and Balance.”

“My Family,” by preschooler Caroline Branham. “I have learned a great deal from working on this exhibit,” she said. “I now have a greater appreciation for the many curators and people behind the scenes of every art exhibit and show. I also learned about planning and scheduling in the art world.”

McDearmon agreed. “It works so nicely because they get to see how a show is put together from start to finish,” she said of student curators, past and present. “It’s not such an involved show [and] it’s good for us because we’re organized before the [winter] break.”

Gallery hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Friday and 1 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. For more information, contact Rebecca Lane, Sweet Briar art galleries director, at rmlane@sbc.edu or 381-6248.

In addition to Colton, the following young artists also will exhibit work:

Preschool:

Caitlin Driver
Caroline Branham
Collin Stinnett
Eli Tomlin
Harmon Woods
Jaiden Shaw
Katelyn Ware
Luke Hopkins
Mack Calvert
Mary Addison Brown
Patrick Berry
Saeed Gentry
Sonya Bhakta
Vassar Camden

Kindergarten:

Matthew Cargill
Emma Coffey
Kelsy Fitzgerald
Willow Litchford
Chase Maddox
Kenneth Mays
Hunter Meyer
Martin Moore
Danielle Saunders
Bailey Sisson
Jacob Tomlin
LeeAnne Zirkle

— By Suzanne Ramsey, SBC staff writer