Inspired by a Scandinavian folktale, the collaborations of MTSU art students and children from Denmark and Norway will be displayed on campus.

The MTSU study-abroad entourage involved in the “East of the Sun and West of the Moon” art project poses for a group photo at the Flam School in Flam, Norway. They are, from left, Dillon Heaton, Rebecca Tenpenny, Magdalena “Maggie” Grzybowski, Amber Selfe, Todd Tosten, Dr. Debrah C. Sickler-Voigt, Lora “Katie” Scoggins, Kelsey Rogers and Elisia “Nikka” Tillis. (photos submitted)

A reception to celebrate “East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Interpreting Resiliency in Scandinavian Folklore” will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 22, in the Todd Art Gallery in MTSU’s Todd Building.

The exhibit was created by art education study-abroad students under the guidance of Dr. Debrah C. Sickler-Voigt, MTSU art professor, in collaboration with children from Norway’s Flam School and Denmark’s Anna Trolles School.

The book-arts projects illustrate the youngsters’ stories about how they overcame obstacles.

“The principals in their countries were impressed with the way we were able to inspire their students to communicate about challenging life events through art and conversations,” said Sickler-Voigt.

“Additionally, the exhibition include video documentaries and photographs the art education students made of their study-abroad experience.”

“East of the Sun and West of the Moon,” the story that serves as the basis for the art, is the story of a young girl taken from her home by a white bear, a tale full of magic, trolls and even a wicked stepmother.

Study-abroad students involved in the creation are Magdalena “Maggie” Grzybowski of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; Amber Selfe of Primm Springs, Tenn.; Todd Tosten of Clarksville, Tenn.; Lora “Katie” Scoggins of Antioch, Tenn.; and Dillon Heaton, Kelsey Rogers, Rebecca Tennpenny and Elisia “Nikka” Tillis, all of Murfreesboro.

The exhibit will be on display through Friday, Aug. 16, during the gallery’s regular hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Both the reception and the exhibit are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at eric.snyder@mtsu.edu or the MTSU Department of Art at 615-898-2455.

For parking information, go to http://tinyurl.com/MTParkingMap12-13.

— Gina K. Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)

Students at the Flam School in Flam, Norway, work on their contributions to the “East of the Sun and West of the Moon” art exhibit to be displayed at MTSU’s Todd Art Gallery July 22-Aug. 16.