A2 Open sixth grader Lucia was recently pleased to learn that a piece of her artwork was selected to be included in the Embracing Our Differences exhibition at Gallup Park, where it will be on display through the summer.
“I am a person with a lot of words in my head and I have such little opportunity to say them,” says Lucia. “Drawing helps me say all the things without annoying someone’s ears off with my endless yammering: I create a nice piece of art that they can look at instead. Winning this contest gives me a chance to share my thoughts with people other than my friends and family. I am so grateful for this opportunity to share my artwork with others.”
Lucia’s piece features two cuddling cats with a rainbow flag background and can now be seen at Gallup Park in 12 ft x16 ft format. The displays in Gallup Park in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti’s Riverside Park feature a number of pieces made by artists from around the world, local artists, and other young artists in AAPS.
Embracing Our Differences Michigan is an initiative that has been organized by local art advocates Lynne Settles and Nancy Margolis who were inspired by, and then partnered with, the original EOD from Sarasota, Florida.
Lucia is a creative and prolific artist who has developed her skills over time by thoughtfully reflecting on what works, what doesn’t, and applying what she has learned to her next piece of art, notes her art teacher, Deb Ennis.
“Last year I welcomed this call for art as a wonderful opportunity for our students to share insight into their unique perspectives through creating visual narratives using materials of their choosing and based upon their diverse experiences in life,” says Ennis. “We actually had three pieces of art selected for last year’s display! These artists were (then) 5th grader Sophie Napier, 5th grader Lydia Anderson, and 8th grader Mollie Meadow, whose accomplishment was written about by the Washtenaw Jewish News.”
Ennis says that while working through this project, more time was taken away from our regular curriculum than I had anticipated, and she realized it wasn’t feasible for her as an art teacher to provide adequate time for this lesson every year on my own.
“This year I simply encouraged students to independently participate in the opportunity I had familiarized them with last year,” says Ennis. “We began brainstorming and creating art in the classroom and I encouraged them to finish on their own as optional art homework, bringing it back if they were interested in entering the contest. Lucia was inspired by her friend winning the previous year and was one of the few students who came back with a finished piece of art. In addition to regularly attending art lessons with me, she made the choice to invest personal time into practicing her skills outside of class. These factors are a large part of what contributed to her success. When she brought her artwork back I took a high-quality photo with my personal phone and sent it to her supportive mother along with the link for entering the contest.”
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