Hillestad Friends announce textile art education outreach curriculum

The Friends of the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have announced a creative textile art educational outreach curriculum, "Fiber Celebrations of Joy."

The curriculum was developed to coincide with the "Celebration Threads: New Twists by Robert Hillestad" at the gallery. The outreach is an effort to expose students across the state to the textile medium and to noted artist Robert Hillestad.

The written curriculum "Fiber Celebrations of Joy" is aligned with state and national standards and is designed for students at elementary, middle school and high school levels. It is available for educators to use in their classrooms. Jane Marie developed the curriculum at Aurora High School and pilots textile projects relating to the "Celebration Threads" exhibition. Students enrolled in drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and fiber arts classes are connecting textile themes and materials in their specialized areas. As part of the sequence, the Aurora students will receive a bus scholarship to travel to the Hillestad Gallery.

Hillestad, who was awarded a 2008 Governor's Art Award for Excellence in Art Education in Nebraska, will also visit Aurora High School and meet with classes. A display of student works from the outreach program will be presented at Aurora High School, 300 L St., Aurora, May 1-16. For further information, contact Marie at (402) 694-2820, extension 275.

The Hillestad Gallery (http://textilegallery.unl.edu) is part of the Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design in the UNL College of Education and Human Sciences. The gallery is on the second floor of the Home Economics Building, 35th Street north of East Campus Loop. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and by appointment. Admission is free. For more information, call Wendy Weiss, gallery director, (402) 472-6370.