Students from the Bealart Secondary Art School have launched their second annual art show at the TAP Centre for Creativity in downtown London, Ont.., installing and marketing the exhibition themselves.
Emily Hillman, a Bealart student, said the show titled Chrysalis is a great way for students to get recognition.
“It’s really cool,” said Hillman. “TAPS is a good place in the community for artists to go and even though we’re all in high school still, technically, we get to have our work put out into the community like this.”
Organizers describe the theme of Chrysalis as the development and growth of youth that is hidden by a cocoon, similar to the basement of Bealart where the student work and study.
Hillman designed a series of five ceramic mug-like sculptures inspired by the look of grapefruits.
“I’ve been working on a series of fruit pools, kind of juxtaposing my film work with my ceramics work by making them more lighthearted and fun,” said Hillman. “They have that dynamic shape and they have an interesting interior and exterior and all of them together kind of shows that they’re all different and unique.”
Bealart Secondary School students have some of their best work on display at the TAP Centre for Creativity in downtown London, Ont.
Students created and installed their own artwork
Bealart students were split into different teams and in-charge of putting the exhibition together by selecting art works, installing the pieces and marketing the show.
Each team worked collaboratively to play a role in making the art exhibition come together. For instance, the documentary team filmed the process from creating the art to the art getting installed.
Ada Yin was part of the opening reception team, while others were put into marketing, documentary, installation and promotion teams.
“We are already all familiar with the community and so the teachers split us up in each group,” said Yin. “I am responsible for opening reception, like sending out invitations and then preparing food and then we have a few performances coming up today as well to have some vibes going on.”
Kieran Belanger, communications support at TAP Creativity Centre, was impressed with students’ artwork and how they brought the exhibition to life.
“I think the students did a fantastic job,” said Belanger. “I hope we keep having them back again. I think it’s a really unique opportunity to let everyone shine and they’ve done a fantastic job…Hopefully we can keep doing this for a long, long time.”
The student exhibition at TAPS Cetre for Creativity, 203 Dundas Street, is open to the public daily from noon to 9 p.m. until Saturday.
