The Carnegie Center for Art & History in New Albany, Indiana is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit, "Yin Rei Hicks: A Life of Art," on display March 14-April 19, 2003. A popular ceramics instructor at New Albany High School for the past 14 years, Yin Rei Hicks plans to focus full-time on her own art after her retirement this spring. The exhibit includes traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphy as well as some of Hicks' more modern-influenced pieces.

Born in Hangchow, China, Yin Rei Hicks came to the United States from Taiwan to study painting and sculpture on a President's Scholarship at the University of Louisville. After receiving a Master's Degree in Creative Art in 1972, she taught Chinese painting at U of L for 7 years. Hicks then went back to school to receive her teaching certificate and taught elementary art in the New Albany/Floyd County school system for 3 years. She was commissioned by The Wildlife Society from 1979-1984 to produce a series of paintings for reproduction as collector's plates. For the past 14 years, Hicks has taught ceramics at New Albany High School. On this chapter of her life, the much-loved (and soon to be missed) instructor has said, "When I think about teaching with my students, my heart bubbles with joy."

There will be a National City Gallery Nights reception for this exhibit on Friday, March 14 from 6-8 pm. Visitors can enjoy Chinese music and a selection of Chinese food from Formosa Chinese Restaurant as they explore and celebrate Hicks' life and art. The public is invited to attend.

The Carnegie Center for Art and History, a department of the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, is a contemporary art gallery and history museum that offers a full schedule of changing exhibitions as well as year-round art classes and other educational programs. On permanent display is Grandpa Makes a Scene: The Yenawine Dioramas, a hand-carved, animated display of life in turn of the century Indiana. The Carnegie Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am-5:30 pm, and is located at 201 East Spring Street in historic downtown New Albany, Indiana. Admission is free.