"In Flanders Fields"
Art Exhibition & Silent Auction
February 27 – March 5, 2020
Vermillion Public Library
This page is dedicated to
ELED 360 Spring 2020 Class
ELED 360 Spring 2020 Class
In the News:
- USD Student Art Exhibit Raises $603 for VFW Post 3061, Plain Talk, March 27, 2020
- Art Show To Raise Money for VFW Post, Plain Talk, February 28, 2020
“In Flanders Field,” the annual art show and silent auction created by USD Professor Jing Williams and her students that was held earlier this month at the public library, this year raised $603.
“I really think this year’s exhibition and silent auction went very well,” said Williams about the event, which ended March 5 at the public library. “The purpose of this exhibition is to raise the public awareness of veterans’ sacrifices and contributions to our society. I believe we exceeded that goal. We displayed our artwork at the Vermillion Public Library for one week. During that week, there were always people coming in to see the art. They put bids on certain pieces and later came back to check and make sure nobody outbid them. My students used their talent to express their genuine respect for our veterans. All proceeds will be donated to the VFW Post 3061.”
This is the fifth time Williams has staged this art show fundraiser for Post 3061 as part of the elementary education class -- K-8 Social Science Methods -- she teaches at USD. There were a couple of highlights to this spring’s event.
“I would like to mention two particular moments,” said Williams. “First, one morning when I went back to the library, I found some people were viewing the art. I started to talk to them, letting them know the purpose of our display, especially that these art pieces were made by my students, who are future elementary school teachers. After knowing this, these people showed more interest in our art. One particular lady was touched by certain pieces of the art and shed tears.
“Second, one student’s artwork was about her great grandpa, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He passed away about two month ago. Her family found her great grandpa’s journal. One entry described that, one day, he dreamt about his ship being attacked. The next day, his ship was really attacked and sunk, but he miraculously survived the shipwreck. He believed that it was God who guided and saved him. He spent the rest of his life honoring God through the way he lived,” she said.
Williams said her student painted this story about her great grandpa and his ship.
“She didn’t want to sell the art; she wanted to gift her painting to her great grandma. However, the art was finally won by Becky Stofer, who is a veteran herself. Afterward, I told Becky about the background story of this art piece and asked whether she would allow me to buy it back for my student,” she said. “Becky said, ‘Please consider my bid a donation to the VFW Post 3061. I would like to give the art back to that student.’ All my students and I were touched by Becky’s generosity and good heart.”
Williams plans to continue with her “In Flanders Field” art project in future classes.
“Every time when we do the “In Flanders Fields” art project, my students love it,” she said. “I have been collaborating with the VFW Post 3061 for four years, and I want to keep the collaboration going. The post, especially the Quartermaster Andy Howe, has been extremely supportive of education. This art project has touched many people’s hearts and showed me how caring my students are.
“Every time, my students tell me that they are excited about the project and can’t wait for the exhibition days. They tell me so many times that they feel our veterans should be honored every single day, not just the two to three times during a year on the specific veteran-related holidays,” Williams said. “Their respect for our veterans is not just lip-service. They have used their actions to show our community that they truly understand the human aspect of wars.”
Williams is grateful that this spring’s exhibition was able to happen, right before the outbreak of COVID-19 in South Dakota.
“At this moment, nobody knows how long the coronavirus will pose its threat in the U.S.,” she said. “If it is still a big issue in the fall, I may consider not doing it for the sake of public safety. However, many students have suggested that I put the silent auction online to reach more people. I agree that it is a great idea, but I just don’t know how to make that happen. If local people would like to collaborate with my class and help set up an online silent auction, I’d be more than willing to try.”
Williams thanks Dan Burniston, the director of the Vermillion Public Library, for his support of this art project. She also is grateful to those who came to view the art and who ultimately purchased artwork to benefit Post 3061.
“I really think this year’s exhibition and silent auction went very well,” said Williams about the event, which ended March 5 at the public library. “The purpose of this exhibition is to raise the public awareness of veterans’ sacrifices and contributions to our society. I believe we exceeded that goal. We displayed our artwork at the Vermillion Public Library for one week. During that week, there were always people coming in to see the art. They put bids on certain pieces and later came back to check and make sure nobody outbid them. My students used their talent to express their genuine respect for our veterans. All proceeds will be donated to the VFW Post 3061.”
This is the fifth time Williams has staged this art show fundraiser for Post 3061 as part of the elementary education class -- K-8 Social Science Methods -- she teaches at USD. There were a couple of highlights to this spring’s event.
“I would like to mention two particular moments,” said Williams. “First, one morning when I went back to the library, I found some people were viewing the art. I started to talk to them, letting them know the purpose of our display, especially that these art pieces were made by my students, who are future elementary school teachers. After knowing this, these people showed more interest in our art. One particular lady was touched by certain pieces of the art and shed tears.
“Second, one student’s artwork was about her great grandpa, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He passed away about two month ago. Her family found her great grandpa’s journal. One entry described that, one day, he dreamt about his ship being attacked. The next day, his ship was really attacked and sunk, but he miraculously survived the shipwreck. He believed that it was God who guided and saved him. He spent the rest of his life honoring God through the way he lived,” she said.
Williams said her student painted this story about her great grandpa and his ship.
“She didn’t want to sell the art; she wanted to gift her painting to her great grandma. However, the art was finally won by Becky Stofer, who is a veteran herself. Afterward, I told Becky about the background story of this art piece and asked whether she would allow me to buy it back for my student,” she said. “Becky said, ‘Please consider my bid a donation to the VFW Post 3061. I would like to give the art back to that student.’ All my students and I were touched by Becky’s generosity and good heart.”
Williams plans to continue with her “In Flanders Field” art project in future classes.
“Every time when we do the “In Flanders Fields” art project, my students love it,” she said. “I have been collaborating with the VFW Post 3061 for four years, and I want to keep the collaboration going. The post, especially the Quartermaster Andy Howe, has been extremely supportive of education. This art project has touched many people’s hearts and showed me how caring my students are.
“Every time, my students tell me that they are excited about the project and can’t wait for the exhibition days. They tell me so many times that they feel our veterans should be honored every single day, not just the two to three times during a year on the specific veteran-related holidays,” Williams said. “Their respect for our veterans is not just lip-service. They have used their actions to show our community that they truly understand the human aspect of wars.”
Williams is grateful that this spring’s exhibition was able to happen, right before the outbreak of COVID-19 in South Dakota.
“At this moment, nobody knows how long the coronavirus will pose its threat in the U.S.,” she said. “If it is still a big issue in the fall, I may consider not doing it for the sake of public safety. However, many students have suggested that I put the silent auction online to reach more people. I agree that it is a great idea, but I just don’t know how to make that happen. If local people would like to collaborate with my class and help set up an online silent auction, I’d be more than willing to try.”
Williams thanks Dan Burniston, the director of the Vermillion Public Library, for his support of this art project. She also is grateful to those who came to view the art and who ultimately purchased artwork to benefit Post 3061.