Russ Schultz

The impressive artwork of a local artist and educator also carries an important message.

A reception will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, at Towngate Theatre in Wheeling for the gallery opening of "Lest We Forget," a series of works by Wheeling artist and Wheeling Park High School Art Teacher Russ Schultz.

The "Lest We Forget" series is a culmination of approximately 35 years of study, three-and-a-half years of work in the studio and 47 works. This series is an artist's reflection of the atrocities, hardships and heroic defenders of the Jewish people during the Holocaust, and it was completed following the Poland Personally seminar through Classrooms Without Borders.

Styles vary from Expressionism to Realism in a variety of media. They are meant to be provocative, and they ask the viewer to take a closer look at the atrocities of the Holocaust and hate and racism in general. The works will be on display at Towngate Theatre Sept. 9 – Nov. 21. Mr. Schultz is available for interviews.