Albany, NY - The Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center is proud to host a new exhibit devoted to the original artwork of elementary and middle school children.


The Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center invites all to view the artwork created by students of St. Mary's School in Waterford, NY. The colorful and imaginative artwork on display was hand crafted by Kindergarteners through 8th graders. The exhibit will feature chosen pieces from this 2016-2017 school year in paintings, drawings, paper collage, wood mosaics and sculpture.


"We are so pleased to have the opportunity to give these young artists an opportunity to share their work," says Kathy Quandt, Director of Operations for the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center.


The students studied artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Alberto Giacometti and sand art mandalas of the Tibetan monks. The art of this exhibit showcases both the students' knowledge of these famous artists, but most importantly, their own youthful, imaginative, and childlike interpretations. As Pablo Picasso once said, "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child."

Maria Verdile, art teacher at St. Mary's for the past 9 years, has the privilege to work with these students year after year. She strives to encourage their love of art, their mastery of the art technique and the use of their own imagination and expression in creating art.

These local, youthful masterpieces will be on display at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, located at 25 Quackenbush Square, Albany, now through the end of April. Opening will be held Sunday, March 19, 1-3pm.


About the ACCVB
The Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. was established in 1976 to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community through increased development of conventions and tourism. ACCVB currently represents more than 300 member businesses and assists each year in hundreds of regional meetings. ACCVB also operates the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany International Airport Information Center. For more information, call 518-434-1217 or 800-258-3582 or visit www.albany.org.