
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 23, 1995                   TAG: 9503230046
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-10   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: LAURA ZIVKOVICH
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ART CELEBRATION

Dwarfs, goblins, wolves and spiders startle unsuspecting visitors to the lobby of Beeks Elementary School. In a nearby glass cave, Smaug the Dragon guards his gleaming treasures from the intimidating group of potential usurpers.

Children of all grade levels created the cast of construction-paper creatures based on characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" in honor of Youth Art Month.

Music and art teachers, Charlotte McKee and Kathy Turnauer, have worked around the book's theme with schoolwide projects funded with a Star grant to emphasize fantasy in literature and music.

The pupils are also studying the five movements of Johan deMeij's "Lord of the Rings" symphony, based on Tolkien's trilogy of the same title, in anticipation of seeing a live performance of the piece by Virginia Tech's University Symphonic Band April 5.

Here's a listing of other youth art exhibits on display throughout the New River Valley.

Pastels, watercolors, collages and sculpture by students from all schools in the New River Valley. Kindergarten through sixth-grade works are centered around the theme, "The Chair." Fine Arts Center of the New River Valley, Pulaski, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. through Saturday.

The center will also hold a public reception for the exhibit Sunday, 2-4 p.m.

Pencil and crayon drawings, watercolor and tempera paintings, by Belle Heth Elementary fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade classes. Norwood Center, Radford, Monday-Saturday through March 31, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Works also on display at the School Administration Building and Belle Heth Elementary School.

Watercolor and tempera paintings and papier-mache masks and vessels by Blacksburg Middle School sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade girls. Gillie's Restaurant, Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m.-4 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m, through March 31.

Paintings and drawings by pupils from all primary and elementary schools in Montgomery County. New River Valley Mall, Sunday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-11 p.m., through March 31.

by CNB