In a matter of hours, the front foyer entrance was transformed into a formal art gallery opening for last Thursday evening’s senior studio gallery opening night.

Senior students stood near their large-scale art pieces that were on display, including many three-dimensional pieces, as faculty, past teachers, CHSW alumni, family and friends circulated through the gallery.

According to Valerie Bruzzi, art educator for the students, each student was asked to choose six pieces of art for the gallery, including one piece from their earlier years which would show growth over time, and the rest from senior year.

“This is very sophisticated art,” she said.

The students also had to present their printed, bound portfolio books and business cards, which were placed at the foyer entrance for viewing. Inside the portfolio, in addition to a printed copy of the art on display, the students each had a philosophical statement about their art and their artistic processes.

As guests circulated, they were treated to the music of the Cranston High School West orchestra and light refreshments from the Culinary Arts program at the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center.

Mayor Allan Fung was on hand, perusing the gallery and speaking to students.

“Year after year it’s so magical to see so much talent on display by so many students,” he said. “This year again, they really wowed me with this display and with so many works using so many different [forms of] media. It’s fun to see the smiles on their faces and on the faces of their parents and friends who came here to see their talent and dedication. I’m proud to be here to support the school and the students.”

Principal Tom Barbieri also expressed his pride in the students and their work, not just for the gallery opening but also all throughout the year, as the artwork from students is always on display throughout the school. He likened the emphasis on art in Cranston Public Schools to the emphasis given back to the arts in the city of Providence by Mayor Buddy Cianci, a renaissance of sorts, back when Barbieri and Fung were at Classical High School together.

“It shows how important the arts are in our community, and that we are working hard to keep things like art and music and theater alive here,” he said. “Tonight is about the celebration of our seniors. They’re the renaissance of the arts at CHSW.”

Each student received a citation from Congressman Jim Langevin’s office, courtesy of staff assistant Ryan Curtis, who congratulated the students and noted that he was quite familiar with the artists from Cranston West who had just won several of this year’s Congressional Art contest awards.

“Cranston West can talk the talk and walk the walk,” he said. “Your art stands out.”

Bruzzi thanked the students, their families and her colleagues for their collaboration and for their support of the art program at West, which she said is a private school education within a public school. She stated that she looks forward to having a formal art pathways program at West in the near future, and believes that families will start sending their students to West from surrounding cities and towns, due to the high quality art education that exists there.

“Our art department rocks,” she said. “We are so fortunate to be supported by everyone in this community. Our students rank at the top of their class, they are going to great schools, they’re receiving awards and scholarships, and they’re a great group of students.”

Art program supervisor Jillian Cyr was proud of the students at West as she visited the gallery opening.

“West's 2018 senior studio class has outdone themselves once more under the direction and guidance of teacher-artist, Valerie Bruzzi-Krsulic,” she said. “Tonight's exhibit opening highlights just some of these students’ creative endeavors. The professionalism of the event truly speaks to the strength and dedication of the visual arts in Cranston. These students will go far, and as you can see through the artwork, they’re already on the way.”