The Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library will showcase the artwork of Boothbay Region High School students for the month of March in celebration of Youth Art Month. The community can admire the display by these talented students through March 30.

Manon Lewis has taught art taught art at Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) for 36 years. Lewis was awarded the Boothbay Region Rotary's Associate of the Year Award in 2000 for her work with students and community, the same year she was named Maine Art Educator of the Year.

And, most recently, Lewis was a Fulbright Scholar in Japan.

Lewis has been coordinator of Youth Art Month for Maine Art Education Association for over 30 years and served as its president. For 20 years, Youth Art Month has included an annual statewide exhibition of student artwork at the Portland Museum of Art.

According to Lewis, Youth Art Month promotes the visual arts, focusing on the importance of quality art education in school systems across the United States. Its primary goal is to “emphasize the value of participating in art, for all children" and it also offers a tool of advocacy for the visual arts.

This past semester at BRHS, Lewis has taught just under 100 students in introductory art, intermediate advanced art and integrated arts and humanities, introductory art, sculpture, metals and jewelry making.

In addition to her classes, Lewis serves as an advisor on the BRHS Student Council.

Each year she shares her love for travel and journeys to a variety of foreign destinations with students such as, France, England, Spain, Costa Rica, Canada, Italy, China, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Scotland, Ireland and Greece. Lewis' next trip: Italy in April with 13 BRHS students. She and Mary Miller are coordinators of this much anticipated adventure.

The observation of YAM in Maine was implemented in 1981 but, Youth Art Month has been celebrated nation-wide since 1961. In the state of Maine it has been celebrated for the last 20 years. Recently, an additional exhibit and reception at the offices of the Maine Education Association in Augusta.

Stay tuned for more student art: In April, it’s the Boothbay Region Elementary School students, facilitated by BRES art teacher Jessica Nadeau.