On the heels of her return from Governor Mike Pence’s inaugural jobs and economic development mission to Japan last month, today First Lady Karen Pence completed the art exchange between third grade students in Lafayette and its Japanese sister-city, Ota City.
“Art is an outlet that allows us to share our vision of something uniquely cultural,” said Pence. “Like peeking into a window of somewhere new, this art exchange gave us a glimpse of life here in Indiana and in Japan. Common themes quickly surfaced between the students’ drawings, teaching us that what connects us is stronger than just economic ties, but the virtue of our peoples. I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to host this art exchange and learn something new not just about Japan, but about ourselves.”
The art exchange began on Aug. 27 when Mrs. Pence, an art teacher, originally visited Glen Acres Elementary School in Lafayette and had the students draw self-portraits based on the theme “Me Seeing My Favorite Things.” During the Japan trade mission, Mrs. Pence shared the Lafayette students’ artwork with third grade students at Ota Elementary School and asked the Ota students to also create art based on the project’s theme. Today, she brought the Japanese students’ artwork back to the Lafayette students to complete the art exchange.
“As part of Glen Acres’ theme this year of taking students ‘Around the World in 180 Days,’ we were pleased to welcome Mrs. Pence into our classroom to share in her trip to Japan,” said Sherry Upton, third grade teacher at Glen Acres Elementary. “Students particularly enjoyed learning about the similarities and differences between school here in Indiana and in Japan. Through this art exchange, our students expanded their cultural awareness, which will be an asset to them for many years to come.”
Attached are photos from Mrs. Pence’s visit to Glen Acres today, as well as from her pre-trip visit to Lafayette’s Glen Acres Elementary School on Aug. 27:
First Lady Karen Pence teaches students how to draw a self-portrait.
Glen Acres Elementary School third graders show off their self-portraits. Mrs. Pence presented these drawings to the Ota students in Japan.
Photos and additional media from Mrs. Pence’s visit to Ota Elementary School as part of the Governor’s first trade mission to Japan are available on the Day 5 webpage at http://www.in.gov/gov/Japan2013.htm.