Samira welcomes guests
On Tuesday, April 5, St. James School hosted a special gallery showcase of student artwork on display at the Community Art Gallery in the offices of The Philadelphia Foundation.
The exhibit, titled “Our Gallery. Our Stories.”, featured bold, colorful, and vibrant artwork by students in grades 5-8. For each project, Art Teacher Deena Ball worked with students to use art to tell stories and express students’ identities–self portraits hang alongside mixed media collages of student thumbprints and expressive depictions of students’ houses.
Keith Haring renditions by students
Guests had the opportunity to walk through the gallery with a student artist guide, admire and purchase student artwork–of which nearly 50% sold during the event, raising funds for student scholarships–and learn about the many ways that the arts are thriving at St. James School.
Special remarks were made during the event by The Philadelphia Foundation CEO and President Pedro Ramos, who offered a warm welcome to guests and shared how the St. James gallery was a truly special showcase in the foundation’s history of exhibitions. Mr. Ramos expressed his personal admiration of the student art. Head of School David Kasievich spoke briefly about the importance of arts in education, then introduced 8th grade student Samira who spoke eloquently about her experience participating in St. James
Pedro Ramos, Maggi Kirk, Samira, Deena Ball, David Kasievich
School’s robust art and music programs. Thanks to St. James School’s emphasis on the arts, Samira has the opportunity to take both art history and studio art classes, and is also a proud member of the National Junior Art Honor Society, which only exists at 600 schools across the country.
Thank you to The Philadelphia Foundation for welcoming St. James School into its space so graciously and providing such a beautiful space for student art.
Our Gallery, Our Stories–February 1 through April 22, 2016, free and open to the public Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.
