Francis Lewis High School’s annual art show on May 29 in the gymnasium offered students a vibrant platform to express their creativity, culture, and individuality through visual art.
“I feel like I worked really hard on my artwork,” art student Jaylynne Wallace said. “My partner and I were just really proud when I went and I saw that artwork display and honestly made me wanna do it. It’s not only that it was an assignment but I felt proud of it because I put my art in with the project.”
Art students like Wallace used the opportunity to showcase artwork deeply connected to their cultural identities and personal experiences
“My artwork showed the Dominican Republic because the whole thing is just really inspired and me and my partner are both Dominican,” Wallace explained. “So we try to come together and express ourselves.”
Art teacher Mr. Lee emphasized student originality this year, pushing them to avoid limitations and instead focus on their own ideas.
“This year, specifically this year, we asked them not to copy from Pinterest or someone else’s artwork,” Mr. Lee said. “We tried to create their own artwork, and own idea, and their own artistic voice. Whoever creates something outside of the box, their work has been displayed, and they are part of our art program.”
Other students used the art showcase as the chance to explore more techniques and subjects that pushed them out of their comfort zones.
“I like how we got to try new things,” student artist Tiffany Charles said. “My drawing was a portrait of Mozart and it was really nice to have that experience in drawing that I never had.”
Teachers made sure all students, regardless of skill level or background, were supported throughout the process with structured plans and timelines to guide their work.
“We made a lesson plan, and then for some artwork, we made a unit plan,” Mr. Lee said. “Then we made a timeline, and each different class, we worked based on that timeline. We want to include everyone, no matter what their skill level, no matter what their limitations are.”
