High school art teachers want show in courthouse

Three local art teachers asked Whitman County commissioners Monday to let them use the courthouse halls to display their students’ art.

Teachers Patty Mills of Oakesdale, Sean Moss of Rosalia and Cheryl Lothspeich of Colfax pitched the idea of having art displayed in the courthouse and judged by county officials.

“You can see it all on its own for their own aesthetic value,” Mills told commissioners.

All three said the display would provide students a different perspective on the impact of their art.

“The great thing is, this gets their art out of the classroom. And they can have a different viewer than their teacher,” said Lothspeich.

“Also, it kind of validates the students and all their hard work,” said Moss.

Commissioners were amenable to the idea, voting unanimously to allow the showing.

“I think the idea of a reception would be a lot of fun,” said Commissioner Michael Largent. “You put on your nice clothes and have some hors d’oeuvres.”

Moss said the original idea was to display students’ art for a week or two as soon as this spring.

Commissioner Pat O’Neill suggested a longer span, suggesting a six-week display.

For a show of that length, said Moss, more planning would be required, potentially putting the show off to next year.

Commissioners told the teachers to speak with facilities manager Bob Reynolds about how best to pull off the show, removing for the time the historic pictures hung in the halls by the library. Commissioner Greg Partch also noted the plaster walls can be difficult to nail into.