Victory Park
1201 N. Pershing Ave.
Stockton, CA  95203
(209) 940-6315   
sbenedetti@hagginmuseum.org

Third-grader Mikayla Hieb, whose work was accepted for the 2006 McKee Student Art Exhibition, attended the opening reception.

This annual display of student art work started in 1931, the same year the museum opened its doors. The upcoming exhibition in 2006 marks its 75th anniversary, a milestone that reflects the museum’s commitment to young artists in San Joaquin County that dates back to its founding.

Over the years, audiences have responded to the diversity and originality of the art work featured in this exhibition. All the works on display are created by students in kindergarten through twelfth grades attending public and private schools in San Joaquin County. 

Students use a variety of media, including crayons, colored pencils, pastels, watercolors, oil and acrylic paints, to make two-dimensional works that fill the walls of the Lower and Upper West Galleries. They create three-dimensional works from clay, wire, found objects, and other materials. Some students submit photographs and mixed-media pieces.

Taken together, these works create an exciting and vibrant display that reflects the creativity of San Joaquin County’s young artists.

EXHIBITION JUDGE
The museum is pleased that sculptor, public artist, and educator Lisa Cooperman has agreed to judge this year’s 75th McKee exhibition. She taught in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of the Pacific for five years and has just opened her own art studio, offering classes to children and adults. Originally from the Bay Area, she received a BA from Bowdoin College and an MFA in Metalsmithing and Sculpture from Montana State University in Bozeman.

CALLING ALL TEACHERS
It is thanks to the teachers in San Joaquin County’s schools that the museum has been able to display student art work for 75 years. They have played a key role in selecting works for this show. Currently, each teacher can choose up to five works per class to submit for the McKee Exhibition. 

The museum is calling on teachers to help make this a banner year for the 75th McKee Student Art Exhibition by contributing student art work from their classes for display in this year’s McKee show. The times for submitting work have been changed to better accommodate teachers’ schedules. 

The upcoming dates for teachers to bring art work to the door on the south side of the museum are:

• Thursday-Friday, January 19-20, 2:30-5:30 p.m.;
• Saturday, January 21, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

A 6-page educators packet containing Submission Guidelines, an Inventory Sheet, and Labels can be downloaded here:

2006 McKee Exhibition Guidelines packet (403KB)

Please contact Curator of Education Susan Benedetti at 209-940-6315 or sbenedetti@hagginmuseum.org with any questions.

OPENING RECEPTION
Saturday, February 4, 1:30-3 p.m.
Free Admission

For 75 years, student participants and their families have celebrated the opening of the McKee Student Art Exhibition with a special opening reception.  This event has repeatedly set attendance records with the museum welcoming 800-1,000 children and adults on this opening day.

This year’s free reception on Saturday, February 4, 1:30-3:00 p.m., will be hosted by the museum’s Junior Women’s Group, who will serve punch and cookies. 

To highlight the arts in San Joaquin County schools, the museum has invited several young musicians to play in the Hull Gallery opening day.  Historical photos show that musical combos played at the McKee openings back in the 1950s. The museum is pleased to bring back that tradition, thanks to Brian Kendrick, San Joaquin Delta College music faculty member and percussionist with the Stockton Symphony.

MUSEUM INFORMATION
The Haggin Museum is located in Stockton's Victory Park, 1201 N. Pershing Ave., and is open Wednesday-Sunday, 1:30-5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults 18 and up; $2.50 for youth ages 10-17, students with a valid I.D., and seniors 65 and over; and free for museum members and children under 10 accompanied by an adult. Admission is free to all visitors on the first Saturday of every month.

Free docent-led tours may be booked in advance by contacting Susan Benedetti at (209) 940-6315 or sbenedetti@hagginmuseum.org. For disabled access, call ahead at (209) 940-6311 or 940-6317.

The Museum Store is open Wednesday-Sunday, 1:30-4:30 p.m.