New exhibit displays amazing art from Lowell students
”Portrait of Vinnie” by Anthony Perez, first-place winner in the high school category:
If you have any doubt about the creative talent of Lowell schoolchildren, you absolutely have to visit the Visual Voices III exhibit at the ALL Arts Gallery, across from the National Park Visitor Center at 246 Market Street. The gallery is currently showing art work from Lowell students in grades K-12, and the range and quality of this exhibit is astounding. The show is an incredible array of paintings, sculpture, pottery, mixed media, photography, computer graphics, and drawings from the city’s youngest emerging artists. Free to the public, the exhibit is open Saturdays (11-4) and Sundays (12-4) through May 12.
Due to space limitations, a jury could only select 100 pieces to display from more than a thousand entries in this third exhibit of student work from Lowell schools. The Arts League of Lowell (ALL) provided the professional gallery space to display the student work, and the show was funded in part by the Lowell Cultural Council. Jay Hungate, sculptor at the Brush Art Gallery and Western Ave Studios, helped hang the children’s show.
Organized by Daley School art teacher Lolita Demers, the exhibit is a testament to the commitment of Lowell art teachers as well as the talent of the many young artists in the city. As part of the exhibit’s opening day reception on Saturday, April 14, music teacher Pat Jussaume led the Daley School chorus in a medley of songs, including a rendition of Lean on Me that brought tears to my eyes. Hundreds of adults and children attended the exhibit opening, which was well worth the visit.
Each of the students whose art was chosen to be displayed in the show was a winner due to the incredible competition, both in terms of the quality of the work and the number of entries, but first, second and third prizes were also awarded by grade categories for outstanding artistic achievement. A listing of the teachers and schools represented in the show, the top three student winners for each category, and additional photos follows. The teachers and schools represented in the exhibit include: Mary Beth Leavitt–Bailey, Candace McDowell–Daley, Engelie Blomerus–Light House School of Art, Erin Noonan-Descoteaux–Lincoln, Betty Santagati and Lorrinda Cerrutti–Lowell High, Dr. Parvin Hakimi–Murkland, Joan Ostis and Jaquelyn Miller—Pyne Arts, Maureen Sayer and Debbie Margi–Reilly, Lauren Barbieri and Kathy Rourke–B.R.I.D.G.E, Kate Seidman and Arlene Browning—Bartlett, Diane Lincoln–Varnum, Leslie MacPhail–Washington, and Nancy Lysz—Shaughnessy.
The first, second and third-place student winners and their schools are: Grades K-1: Brielle Vassil, Light House Art School; Caroline Nutile, Washington; Abigail De Jesus, Lincoln. Grades 2-3: Brandon De Sousa, Light House Art School; Dalina Tur, Lincoln; Kaylee Champoux, Pyne Arts. Grade 4: Darin Vann, Shaughnessy; Monica Ek, Shaughnessy; Michael Tucker Wojas, Bailey. Grades 5-6: Cynthia Archila, Robinson; Sophan Phan, Robinson; Abigail Hickey, Light House School of Art. Grade 7: Elizabeth Grower, Pyne Arts; Mikayla Gregory, Light House School of Art; In Harvey, Robinson; Grade 8: Amanda Mahoney, Robinson; Micheal Sam, Daley; Melissa Chum, Daley. High School: Anthony Perez, Little Boy Blue Photography, and Mary Rivera, Light House School of Art.
Below photos of a wall in the exhibit, “Green Frog” by fifth grader Jovanna Mason, and the Daley School Chorus:
Photos below include second-grader Brandon DeSousa’s first-place ”Abstract Sculpture” and Mikayla Gregory’s “In Honor of All Firemen” clay piece that earned second place in the seventh grade category.
