Political Irony At Its Finest …

Here's a bit of political irony for you to ponder today. A group of
Mason City students, who really just want their education funded, are
holding an art auction to raise money for art supplies. Among the
featured “artists” is none other than Representative Bill Schickel of
Mason City, a man who has consistently voted to underfund their
education. Too bad Representative Schickel only paints a pretty picture of education
dollars for these students.

Mason City Globe Gazette Local News Story
Posted online: Friday, March 11, 2005 12:03 AM CST

Auction will benefit art education
By DEB NICKLAY, Of The Globe Gazette

MASON CITY — A reduction in
K-12 art supply dollars has prompted local students to spearhead an Art
Auction on Sunday at the Salsbury Room at MacNider Art Museum.

A silent auction of student and local celebrity art will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The show ends at 4:30 p.m.

The event is a joint effort of the Mason City Youth Task Force, the Mason City Chamber of Commerce and Mason City schools.

Students
in the YIELD (Youth Investing Energy in Leadership Development) said
students are having to purchase their own supplies.

“I
have taken art every semester in high school and we really struggle;
teachers keep telling us to be conservative with the supplies,” said
YIELD student Brittany Ewing, 17, from Mason City High School. “There
just aren't enough to go around.”

Ewing said students have to buy paint brushes, photo paper, colored pencils and even glue for art classes.

Helping
Ewing mold the idea was fellow junior and YIELD student, Logan Shurtz,
17. With the help of other YIELD students, all art teachers in Mason
City public schools and Newman Catholic Schools were contacted to have
students submit items to the auction.

There
will be 75 to 100 items available from K-12 students, as well as those
crafted by well-known local people such as radio personality Harry O, Rep. Bill Schickel and Jay Hansen, director of Prairie Ridge Treatment Center.

All media will be represented, Ewing said, “from pottery to painting, as well as some great photographs.”

Shurtz said students and teachers have embraced the idea.

“People can come and buy, or just come and enjoy all the art,” Shurtz said.

Reach Deb Nicklay at 421-0531 or deb.nicklay@globegazette.com.