For Ana P., a junior at Woodrow Wilson High School, art is a vessel that brings people together.
“I am passionate about creating new things and expressing through art my emotions and my style of art,” she said. “I love keeping my mind busy with a brush and some paint and I really like to inspire and help others who need it.”
Ana’s original ceramic pieces “Serpentine Sweethearts” and “Sushi Shop of the Sea” were recently featured in the inaugural Woodrow Feeder Pattern Art Show.
“I want to show other students my type of art, which is not very common to see, and to motivate them to keep following your dreams such as I did with art,” she said.
The art show featured work by students from J.L. Long Middle School, Oran M. Roberts Elementary School, William Lipscomb Elementary School, Geneva Heights Elementary School, and Lakewood Elementary School.
While this is the first time Woodrow art teachers and students are hosting an event of this magnitude, they are not new to planning art shows. For the past two years, they created shows featuring Woodrow art students.
That was the inspiration to go bigger, said Morgan Smith, Woodrow ceramics and honors art teacher.
“We knew we wanted the event to make a larger impact, bring our community together, and excite students about a future in the visual arts programs at Woodrow, so it was decided that we would invite our feeder pattern art teachers to join in on the fun,” she said.
Giving students opportunities to explore – and showcase- their artistic skills helps grow students’ self-confidence and self-expression, said Desiree Bartlett, Woodrow art and ceramics teacher.“
When students are able to create art, they are also learning how to advocate for themselves, articulate their ideas, and express their emotions,” she said. “Through these artistic pursuits, students are provided with a platform for applying skills relevant to their chosen fields, fostering growth and excellence.”
From ceramics to film and everything in between, over 100 Woodrow students and 80 elementary and middle school students were featured in the show.
Macy M., a Woodrow junior, featured two pieces during the show – “Gross Snail” and “Peace.”
“‘“Gross Snail” started off on the wrong foot. But, with patience and creativity, I was able to create my mistakes into art. “Peace” is simple, yet a calming piece that shows symmetry,” she said.
Seeing her art included in the show is a reminder of the progress she has made as an artist, Macy said.
”Showcasing art as a student shows how far you’ve improved throughout the year, especially with new, experimental ideas,” she said.
Samora W., a Woodrow senior, showcased a film, “Writers Room.”
Samora, who is heading to Clark Atlanta University to study film, is quick to credit her fellow classmates for their teamwork and support throughout the filmmaking process.
“I want people to view my films because of how we, as a group, achieved so much,” she said. “Making this film had challenges, but we still achieved our goal. I feel like our film is entertaining because of how many ideas were established from everyone in our group.”
Her advice to students who are interested in pursuing arts is simple.
“Try every role, just so you can see which role that you will achieve the most in. With every role you try, you can improve your skills,” she said. “Also, film itself has pros and cons, but if you put your heart into it your outcome will always be better than what you expect.”
