Students Reimagine Rockwell's Four Freedoms

The Arts Council of White Lake-Nuveen Center is excited to announce the opening of this year’s Fall into the Arts Student Exhibition. The theme for this popular annual exhibit featuring artwork from students throughout Muskegon County, is the Four Freedoms. The Four Freedoms were introduced to the nation as goals for humanity by Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1941 State of the Union address. They include: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Beloved American artist Norman Rockwell later created a renowned series of paintings depicting these ideals in 1943.

The concept for this year’s theme came from ACWL-Nuveen Board Member and former Reeths-Puffer Art Teacher, Deb Harris. Inspiration struck when she picked up a book that highlighted reimaginings of Rockwell’s original depiction of the Four Freedoms. Ms. Harris believes that this year’s theme will “provide an opportunity for students to discuss which freedom is most relevant to them at this time.” Elementary through high school age students from schools throughout Muskegon County will be represented in the exhibition. The ACWL-Nuveen Center is looking forward to the creative interpretations of Roosevelt’s goals for our country, nearly 80 years after he shared them with the world, and depictions of how they still resonate today.

Students from Deb Harris's Nuveen Art Institute work on their pieces for this year's Fall into the Arts Exhibition.

The exhibit will open on October 15 and close on November 9. A free reception celebrating the student artists will be held at the ACWL-Nuveen, 106 E. Colby St,. Whitehall, MI 49461, on Saturday, October 26, from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and free-will donations will be collected for each participating school.

For more information on the Four Freedoms and the current international exhibition; Rockwell, Roosevelt, and the Four Freedoms: Emerging Ideals, visit https://rockwellfourfreedoms.org