Courtesy Photo Above is a piece by Christina LaCross, one of many on display in the student art exhibit “Continuum of Creativity” at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan.

The Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is exhibiting the work of Alpena High School art teacher and artist, Kyle Kieliszewski along with work from 53 of his art students.

The exhibit, “Continuum of Creativity” opened Wednesday as part of the region-wide Art Around Town art show.

A free public open house will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at the museum.

Kieliszewski is an Alpena native who has been influenced by several art teachers through his school years from early elementary through high school and into his years at Alpena Community College.

And now the art student has become the art teacher and continues to influence budding artists who may one day leave their mark on the world.

Kieliszewski holds to the same philosophy as first expressed by the now legendary Dr. Betty Edwards, a master art teacher and psychologist, that “One of the most encouraging new discoveries that the human brain has made about itself is that it can physically change itself by changing its accustomed ways of thinking, by deliberately exposing itself to new ideas and routines, and by learning new skills.”

In short, that creativity is not some magical talent, provided by a special birth decree, but rather a teachable and learnable skill, provided that one has a teacher who knows how to impart this knowledge unto others.

Kieliszewski graduated from the University of Michigan. He has been teaching art since 1999, before accepting a position as the art teacher at Alpena High School in 2003. This year marks his ninth year of being involved with Art Around Town.

The exhibit being hosted at the Besser Museum this summer will showcase numerous sculptures from his students along with a variety of 2-dimensional art pieces.

The “Continuum of Creativity” exhibit will be on display at the museum for 11 weeks, now through August 2.