The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College is proud to present the exhibition, It’s Our World: Artists Inspired by Children’s Visions of the Future, at The Greenspire School from February 20 through March 20, 2015. The exhibition was first shown at the Dennos in the fall of 2014, and has gained new life as a traveling exhibition available to local schools.

In conjunction with The Big Draw – Grand Traverse, It’s Our World features five local artists inspired by a child’s artwork. Each artist chose one or more drawings created by a young visitor during Big Draw Day, October 4, 2014, to recreate in the medium of their choice. Children ages 4-12 created drawings in response to questions about keeping the Earth clean, as part of this year’s Big Draw theme, It’s Our World. The exhibition features the artists’ interpretations and the original drawings from the children. Artists include Glenn Wolff, Nancy Nash, Joyce Petrakovitz, Nancy Crisp, and Dewey Blocksma.

“The exhibition was a hit when it was at the Dennos, and we had already had some meetings with local organizations interested in infusing local schools with more art,” says Jason Dake, Curator of Education at the Dennos. “Eventually, through conversations with the artists and families, we decided to use It’s Our World as a pilot program with The Greenspire School. The environmental messages in the art fit perfectly with the curriculum at Greenspire, and we’re excited to have them as a partner in this new project.”

Kevin Kelly, Head of School at Greenspire, is looking forward to featuring the exhibition during an upcoming public event. “We intend to use the exhibit as the foundation of Greenspire Arts Night on March 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  We’ll be partnering with Blackbird Arts that evening to provide our visitors – young and old – with a chance to express themselves creatively,” says Kelly, adding, “The installation should be a wonderful source of inspiration for all involved.”

Following the close of the exhibition on March 20, the Dennos is interested in talking with local schools who are interested in hosting the exhibition. There is no charge for the exhibition, and the Museum hopes to have teachers help design curriculum materials to travel with it.

“It could really take on a life of its own, as long as schools are interested in hosting the exhibition,” says Dake.

Interested schools can contact Jason Dake at 231-995-1029 or jdake@nmc.edu.

The Dennos Museum Center is open daily 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursdays until 8 PM, and Sundays 1-5 PM. For information on the Museum and its programs, go to www.dennosmuseum.org or call

231-995-1055. The Dennos Museum Center is located at 1410 College Dr., Traverse City, MI 49686, at the entrance to the campus of Northwestern Michigan College.

The mission of The Greenspire School is to provide an ecologically relevant and academically rigorous program grounded in direct experiences that develop skills to facilitate lifelong learning and nurture ethical citizenship.