Arne Duncan touts Chicago Public School art exhibit in D.C.

WASHINGTON–Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the former Chicago Public Schools chief, on Friday cuts the ribbon and gives a speech at an art exhibit featuring work from CPS students.

From the release: “In the opening ceremony, Secretary Duncan will be joined by CPS Director of Humanities Paul Whitsitt, Curie Metropolitan High School Art Teacher Jesse Wyss, and Kenwood Academy High School Art Student Armani Howard. In addition, the Gallery 37 & ChiArts Jazz Quintet will give a special performance. Gallery 37 & ChiArts Jazz Quintet students are trained by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, which is also sponsoring the students’ trip to Washington, D.C. ”

below, release from Duncan’s DOE….

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE DUNCAN TO SPEAK AT CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ART EXHIBIT IN D.C.

Ceremony will include special performance by Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz-trained Gallery 37 & ChiArts Quintet

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will talk about the importance of arts instruction and its impact on learning at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an art exhibition by students from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) on Friday, March 25 in the Department’s Auditorium, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. The works are from the CPS All-City Art Exhibition, an annual juried exhibit that honors outstanding achievement in the visual arts by high school students participating in district-wide art classes.

In the opening ceremony, Secretary Duncan will be joined by CPS Director of Humanities Paul Whitsitt, Curie Metropolitan High School Art Teacher Jesse Wyss, and Kenwood Academy High School Art Student Armani Howard. In addition, the Gallery 37 & ChiArts Jazz Quintet will give a special performance. Gallery 37 & ChiArts Jazz Quintet students are trained by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, which is also sponsoring the students’ trip to Washington, D.C.

The exhibit, featuring 100 pieces of artwork from 27 schools, will run from March 25 to April 16. The U.S. Department of Education’s Student Art Exhibit Program is now in its seventh year. The program features art created by students in U.S. and international schools, and provides students and teachers an opportunity to display creative work from the classroom in a highly public space to honor the work as an effective path to learning.

WHO:

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

Paul Whitsitt, Chicago Public Schools Director of Humanities

Gallery 37 & ChiArts Jazz Quintet

Jesse Wyss, Art Teacher, Curie Metropolitan High School

Armani Howard, Art Student, Kenwood Academy High School

WHAT:

Keynote remarks at Chicago Public Schools Art Exhibit

WHEN:

11:00 a.m. – Friday, March 25, 2011

WHERE:

U.S. Department of Education