Inside Aneta Hawrylewicz’s inspiring art show, bright canvases lined the walls, with other mounted sketches of artwork that each student had the privilege of taking part in. One of Hawrylewicz’s favorites, the manuscript-inspired pieces, gave insight into the community and many different cultures at Baruch.
Last month on April 22nd, Ms.Hawrylewicz’s annual art show turned the school’s gym into a gallery filled with community pride and imagination. With the help of Baruch’s amazing parent-teacher association committee, students and teachers were able to gather and celebrate months of hard work. The showcase of artwork served as a reflection of stories and cultures that make up the student body itself.
Every piece carried its own personality—whether it was the abstract paintings covered in loud colors or the carefully sculpted clay figures. However, a specific captivating section of the evening, according to viewers and Ms.Hawrylewicz, was the manuscript assignment display. According to Ms.Hawrylewicz, this project became her favorite one she ever proposed to her class because it “allowed students to express where they came from,” she said during and after the art show.
Each student approached different artworks differently and that’s what made the evening so meaningful. The assignment encouraged students to design illuminated style-pages inspired by personal histories and cultural heritages. Some works included Caribbean traditions and Asian influences on patterns and design elements. Together, the collection formed a striking visual conversation about identity and its relation to art.
Many students stood proudly against their artwork, explaining the techniques and intentions with the stories they are trying to portray.
Of course, Ms.Hawrylewicz was able to make this possible for her students to showcase their deserving artwork by personally individually framing the art herself. Preparing for the show required help from many other faculty members and the students themselves. However, it was through Ms.Hawrylewicz’s dedication to her work and her students that the art show and its experience meaningful.
The effort elevated the experience, giving students the feeling that their work truly mattered; organizing displays, labeling artwork, and framing each project for students to view the creations presented professionally showed the accomplishments of the students and teachers who were involved.
This year’s art show was a great reminder that the students’ experiences, cultures and creativity deserve to be seen. Ms.Hawrylewicz’s optimism about keeping students’ artwork alive, as she stated she “definitely wants to continue for years to come,” will keep ringing in the Baruchian hallways as this annual showcase is bound to become a tradition students will remember long after they leave the classroom.
