NEWS

Celebrating student artists

Artsfest sees large turnout after two years of virtual showcases

Posted 3/15/22

By EMMA BARTLETT

The snowy weather from last Wednesday may have been a pain to drive in, but that didn’t stop people from visiting the Artsfest opening reception at Central Library on …

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NEWS

Celebrating student artists

Artsfest sees large turnout after two years of virtual showcases

Posted

By EMMA BARTLETT

The snowy weather from last Wednesday may have been a pain to drive in, but that didn’t stop people from visiting the Artsfest opening reception at Central Library on Sockanosset Cross Road. Hosted by Cranston Public Schools’ art department and headed by Cranston East art teacher Jill Cyr, the library’s main gallery was packed. By 6:15 p.m., there were barely any spaces left in the parking lot. Artsfest will be on display at the library through March 30.

“Enthusiasm has returned,” said Cranston West art teacher Paul Carpentier who was extremely pleased with the turnout for the opening reception.

From Pre-K to grade 12, every grade level was represented in the show.

“It’s nice walking around and seeing past students’ work… it makes me feel amazed at how they’ve grown their skills and improved,” said Park View Middle School art teacher Alicia Hawkins.

Ellen Laprocina, who teaches at Eden Park and Edgewood Highland Elementary agreed with Hawkins, noting how it’s nice to see how the students have grown artistically.

Each of the district’s 27 art teachers had two sections on the gallery’s wall to fill with artwork. Hawkins and Laprocina said it is hard to choose which pieces go in – all work from the beginning of September until the end of February is considered for Artsfest. In some cases, out of 600 students, teachers are left selecting 20 of the strongest pieces. To include more works, teachers will select smaller pieces to increase the number of work on the walls.

As for the student artists, they couldn’t be happier to have their work in the show.

Third grader Astoira Johnson happily posed in front of her snowman drawing while her grandmother took her picture. Johnson, who attends Edgewood Elementary School, said she was excited to have her work in the show and that her art teacher had the class draw snowmen for their project.

The opening also included students who were part of the 2022 Regional Scholastic Art Awards. Cranston East senior, Alexis Sousa, received an honorable mention for her drawing titled “Irritability.” She used colored pencils to depict an individual’s nails scraping a wooden surface, leaving scratch marks behind.

When asked about where her inspiration came from, Sousa said she’d been drawing since a young age and, after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder a year ago, said she has used art to represent and understand what it is like to have the disorder.

Sousa is in Cyr’s AP 2D Art and Design class. A senior, she would like to pursue a degree in psychology and keep art as a hobby.

Students also approached their work in a 3D style.

Cranston East senior Beau Harryson constructed his artwork “Wild Island Mind” out of cardboard, gouache paint and glue. The piece started as a painting with a person traveling to an island and eventually developed into a collage.

Harryson has been involved with art since a young age and in the past year has found himself enjoying digital art, such as Procreate. He is looking to pursue marine biology or zoology at CCRI, with continuing to have art in his life.

The Artsfest’s showcase will remain in Central Library’s gallery until March 30 for individuals wishing to stop by. In addition to the gallery, student artwork can also be found in the library’s back right corner when walking into the building.

artsfest, reception

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