Oaklawn Auxiliary opens annual art show, awards scholarship

MARSHALL – Original works of art by 265 Marshall area students are on display for the public to view at Oaklawn Hospital.

Participating students’ works will be shown in the hospital’s lobby at 200 N. Madison St. through May 18, after which they will be installed throughout the hospital and at Oaklawn’s Bear Creek Campus, 15209 W. Michigan Ave.

The annual Oaklawn Hospital Auxiliary Student Spring Art Show began with an evening reception Friday, May 9. The reception’s hostess was Cheryl McAuliffe, the Auxiliary’s co-president.

As a highlight of the event, Sarah Lynn Ashley was named the recipient of the $1,000 Hayes-Freese-Oaklawn Hospital Scholarship, which is awarded to a participating high school senior who plans to pursue education in health care or art.

The Marshall High School senior, the daughter of Shantel Tabiadon of Albion, is an art student whose candidacy for the scholarship was recommended by her previous instructor at Albion High School, Annette Lerma.

“Sarah pays attention to detail in everything she does,” Lerma wrote in her recommendation. “In my art class, when introduced to an idea or technique, Sarah used her critical thinking skills and creativity to soar her talents to where none of her peers could compete. In the end, she provided amazing artwork.”

Sarah plans to attend the College for Creative Studies in Detroit to pursue a degree in illustration and animation.

To be considered for the scholarship, applicants submit paintings or drawings to the art show, along with two other pieces of art in any medium for additional consideration.

A new prize – the inaugural Framers’ Choice Award – was presented to Aiden Whittaker, a kindergarten student at Mar-Lee School. Those who selected the young artist’s work said they were drawn to it for its uniqueness, spontaneity and use of color.

Other speakers at the reception included Ruth Albaugh, chair of the Auxiliary’s fundraising and art show committees; Mike Beck, executive director of Oaklawn’s Development Department; and Catherine Hayes, daughter-in-law of Muriel Hayes, who co-founded the scholarship and was one of the first leaders of the annual art show.

The show receives support from members of the Oaklawn Hospital Auxiliary, Oaklawn Hospital, the Marshall Public Schools, Mar-Lee School, Marshall Academy and Marshall Framing Studio.

Participating students are from Marshall High School; Marshall Middle School; Gordon, Hughes and Walters elementary schools; Mar-Lee School; and Marshall Academy.

For more information, call (269) 789-3903.