Images of rusted, abandoned cars, concealed in foliage now line the walls of the hallway at Burr Hall. Cartoon penguins entangled in serious conflicts, wilderness landscapes of the night sky, and luminous frames of trench warfare stand ready to occupy the wandering eyes of the student body.
Welcome to Art Alley, a new addition to the Upper Campus in what had previously been a barren stretch of hallway that lay between the teachers lounge and library. Now, instead of bare walls, there’s a wide variety of incredible student art in all mediums.
The inspiration came to French teacher Helena Pasquarella after frequent visits to the art room where she would regularly see fantastic displays of student talent.
She decided that they deserved to be presented where they would be seen by many more.
“I just feel it’s really important to show off the talent and art of our students,” Ms. Pasquarella explained.
Currently, junior Sydnee Rousseau and senior Thomas Christopher have their artwork displayed in the hallway for their excellence in photography and drawing respectively. The plan for the rest of the year had been to rotate student artwork in that area to allow as many students as possible express their creativity on many mediums on this campus.
Anyone could have had their artwork displayed in the hallway; it’s just a matter of passion. Ms. Pasquarella even mentioned nominating other members of the student body as a viable option, as many of our artists are far too modest to approach her themselves.
“I think it’s a great idea to showcase the many talented students here at OVS and I am really lucky and proud to be part of that first group of students,” said Sydnee, who is pleased to be featured in the current round. “It is really fun to be able to see my photography and some of my favorite shots I’ve taken up on the wall. I think it’s really nice to have a way for students to have another way to share their passions with their peers.”
Ms. Pasquarella first felt a desire to organize something of this calibre last year but wasn’t able to find a good catalyst for it. This year however, she found it, with the posters that students made for Black History Month in February. After that, the stars fell into alignment as she was able to continue displaying other works of art on that wall.
For the individuals whose works are currently on display in Art Alley, there are short biographies that accompany these pieces.
“They tell you a lot of things, like what people are thinking about their work, what inspires them, it gives you insight as to what the artist feels,” Ms. Pasquarella said.
Thomas Christopher is proud to have his artwork displayed in Art Alley.
“I like to show people what I can do/have done,” Thomas explained about being put on display. “I feel pretty chuffed.”
What started as a temporary display for posters made to honor Black History Month, has grown into a celebration of the underrepresented talent on this campus. From the painters, to the photographers, the sketchers, to the sculptors, all can come to expect the recognition that they so truly deserve for their creativity and their boldness in the field of art.