A collaborative art project at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art has given area art students a chance to display their talents in a real-world setting for the first time.

Eleven students from Norwin High School and art students from Greensburg-Salem High School worked on a mural project for the museum's 31st annual Holiday Toy and Train Exhibition, "The Art of Toys."

"I liked working on something that people would see on display at a museum," says Norwin senior Michael Lisieski. "Even though it's not a feature piece, it's given me exposure."

The project is the first time Norwin students worked with the museum on an exhibit.

The students worked on acrylic paintings of antique toys for two weeks, which were framed and placed on top of the four-walled exhibit. Faculty and students from Greensburg-Salem High School and two students from Norwin, Angela Jones and Corinne Oplinger, painted the actual walls.

The idea to superimpose canvas paintings onto the painted walls remedied the problem of transportation, says Norwin art teacher Debra Roberts.

"We were lucky enough to come up with this concept where they could still participate without being on site," Roberts says. "I'd like to do it again but we have to work out the logistics a little more."

In an effort to do more collaborative projects between the museum and the community, the museum created a committee consisting of volunteers from each school district.

Art teacher Sue Teems volunteered for the committee to represent Norwin.

"It's amazing to be able to showcase their skills in a public place and have this experience. I'm so glad we did it," Roberts says.

Senior Kelly Dixon, who painted a railroad sign, says having her artwork in the museum is a great experience.

"It's an unreal feeling," says Dixon, who plans to study animation at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. "I've had pieces of artwork hanging up in an exhibit at the school but there's not a wide variety of people like the museum."

Dixon plans to visit the exhibit with her mother over Christmas break.

"It was amazing to see it all together," Roberts says. "When we first started, we only had a month to get it done. We really pushed them hard and it looks spectacular. I think the kids that go see the toy collection will really enjoy the mural."

If you're going ...

What: Mural exhibit, "The Art of Toys."

Where: Westmore-land Museum of American Art, 221 North Main St., Greensburg

When: The exhibit continues until Sunday, Jan. 28.

For more information, call the museum at 724-837-1500 or visit www. wmuseumaa.org [1].

artists: Students who worked on the project: Lynn Antis, Kevin Campbell, Kelly Dixon, Kaci Fleming, Angela Jones, Michael Lisieski, Jessica McIntyre, Kelsey Noll, Kristin Odell, Corinne Oplinger and Kim Wolff.