The Isabel Bloom Art Education Fund awarded nearly $8,000 to local visual arts programs. The Fund provides financial support to programs within the primary and secondary schools of Scott and Rock Island counties, and is intended to further the education of local children and art instructors, foster greater appreciation of the visual arts and enhance the quality of life in the Quad Cities.

2009 recipients include:

• Seton Catholic School: $2,000, Digital Pictures to Painted Portraits project: The art in technology project will involve the middle school students in the creation of painted self-portraits in the styles of artists Chuck Close and Andy Warhol. Using digital camera, computer software, the computer lab and basic painting techniques, the individual student will create their own self-portrait on canvas.
• Wells Elementary School: $2,000, Isabel Bloom Passageway to the Arts project: The project will focus on utilizing common areas of the elementary school building to bring about an educational experience for the arts. Art prints along with biographical information will be displayed and a curriculum will be developed.
• Jordan Catholic School, $2,000, “First Impressions” project: Jordan students will be introduced to eight Impressionist artists and will create sketches and drawings based upon elements in the paintings. Students will experience creating works of art in oil pastel, watercolor, or tempura.
• Trinity Lutheran School: $1,990, Enhancing Trinity’s art program: The school will purchase and install a new kiln to enable students to have the opportunity to explore, learn and use clay in three-dimensional art projects.

The Isabel Bloom Art Education Fund is administered by the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend.