HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-11-08, Page 15News
Seaforth woman studying to becdrne
art therapist has work on display
Jeff Heuchert
It was while volunteering
her time in Montreal to work
with people who have special
needs, that Monica Eckert
realized where her artistic
intellect could best be put to
use.
"It was really nice. I taught
them how to use art materi-
als and explore and learn a
lot about themselves," says
the 21 -year-old Seaforth
native in a recent phone
interview. "I found I really
like it."
Eckert, who has finished
her third of four years at
Concordia University, in
Montreal, studying Studio
Art and Psychology, is home
on a break from school, but
not from art.
Eckert is the guest artist
this month at the Goderich
Co-op Gallery, where her
paintings can be viewed on
,display across a 16 -foot wall.
"In Montreal I was in a few
(art) shows with 20 other peo-
ple, but I never had my own
wall before," notes Eckert jok-
ingly, adding that much of
her work on display now in
Goderich she completed while
at school.
"When I went to the city I
kind of missed the farms and
open space. So I started to
paint cornfields and land-
scapes of Huron County," she
says.
"It makes me think of my
childhood," she adds, noting
that it was at an early age
she developed a strong curios-
ity towards art.
"My family's pretty artistic.
I was raised in that environ-
ment - with art supplies all
around," she says.
Eckert recalls one of her
first opportunities to really
get her hands dirty came
when she was 12 years old,
when she attended an art
camp in Stratford.
When she was older Eckert
signed upfor all of the art
courses available at St.
Anne's Catholic Secondary
School, in Clinton, before
deciding on Concordia
University after graduating
from high school.
"I heard a lot of good things
about them (Concordia
University)," she recalls, not-
ing she decided the extra dis-
tance away from home was
worthwhile since the univer-
sity is one of few that offer a
masters program in art ther-
apy.
"I'm more interested in art
therapy than being a com-
mercial artist," she adds, cit-
ing hospitals and schools as
possible places of employ-
ment once she graduates, or
possibly opening her own
practice.
At the university, Eckert
has been exposed to a wide
range of different'artistic
styles, including sculpturing,
animation, painting and
drawing.
See
ECKERT
Page 33
The Huron Expositor • . November 8, 2006 Page 15
Of \ .Huron East
I WILL LISTEN TO YOU
RE-ELECT
MARG ANDERSON
Councillor for East Ward
Municipality of Central Huron
(Formerly Township of Hullett & Town of Clinton)
• Dedicated with 9 years experience
• Accountable • Fair
• A Team Player Who's Willing to Listen
I would appreciate your support on
Election` Day
Please call 523-4894 if you have
comments or concerns
Jeff Heuchert photo
Monica Eckert, of Seaforth, whose work is being featured this month at the
Goderich Co-op Gallery, poses with her painting of a Huron County cornfield.
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