Nine students from Loyola College in Maryland’s spring Color: Practice and Theory Studio Arts course have donated their paintings of animals to The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore for the “What Animal Am I?” exhibit, which will be on display at Camp Base Discovery for the remainder of the year.

Children visiting the Zoo will be able to look at the paintings, try to figure out what animal it is from its color and patterns, and then attach a label with the animal's name on it to the painting. The exhibit, which is part of the Zoo’s education program, will help promote reading in young children.

Mary Beth Akre, who teaches the course, has done service projects with her classes before.

"I wanted to create a project that was fun and got us out of the classroom," said Akre. "I wanted to support the zoo, which, like most institutions, is facing economic difficulties. I am also a teacher to the core, so any way that I can help promote reading/learning is essential to what I am. Visual arts and language arts are a powerful combination in the early learning years and our project combines the visual with reading in a fun way."

Clare Ostrom, '09, enjoyed the class project, choosing to paint the sitatunga, a specific species of antelope.

"I really enjoy the idea of painting for others - not just class - and the fact that children can benefit and learn from what we have done," said Ostrom.

The students (pictured left to right) who donated paintings include Andrew Coccaro, ’09; Josh Taylor, ’09; Caitlin Hennessey, ’09; Lisa Barrier, ’11; Brittany Gruber, ’12; Clare Ostrom, ’09; Katie Siemon, ’09; Ashley Twaddell, ’11; and Dan Corrigan, ’09.