Artists Working in Education (AWE) presents "A Celebration of Children's Art," a collection of work created this summer by kids who participated in AWE's Truck Studio Program.

"A Celebration of Children's Art" hangs in the Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda, Sept. 19 through Oct. 6. There is an opening reception on Tuesday, Sept. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St.

The exhibit features paintings, collages, plaster casts and fiber arts pieces made by four to 14-year-olds who were instructed by professional artists, art teachers and college-level art students through the Truck Studio Program.

"All of the work is created by children in Milwaukee's most challenged neighborhoods," says Sally Salkowski Witte, AWE executive director. "To me, it's entirely appropriate that their artwork is positioned, at least for a short time, where those who have a great deal of power to make a difference will pass by every day."

AWE's Truck Studio Program ran for six weeks, and provided free art instruction and materials at seven Milwaukee parks.

"The informal outdoor art setting makes art activities truly accessible for the whole family and they are able to enter the art-making process when they choose," says Witte.

AWE was founded in 1998 by a group of art educators, museum curators and artists concerned about the decreases in funding for the arts in education on the local and state level.

AWE's mission is to provide youth in the Milwaukee area with arts enrichment programs to enhance human potential, advance learning and cultivate community. The group's two main initiatives are the School Studio Artist-In-Residence Program and the Truck Studio Program.

"Often a parent or teenage babysitter will bring a group (to the Truck Studio) including babies in strollers and kids on bikes and they'll all sit down to make art together," says Witte.