A cross representation of the art by three students greeted visitors to The Bradford Art School’s latest annual exhibit, opening to the colourful creations of the school’s 92 other students.
“The set up is the biggest thing … you want all the pictures to be displayed visually,” explained Lindsay Provenzano, director of operations for the family-owned business, who spent two weeks preparing for the recent show. “It’s an overwhelming, beautiful experience.”
Getting ready for the event involved transforming the local studio into exhibition space that allowed the students, families and friends to walk through at their own pace to see the many pieces, some of which were matted and included name tags. The art school featured five pieces by each of their 95 students in the open studio space.
“Every year when we’re done setup we look around and say this is awesome,” Provenzano added.
The year culminates with the naming of three students in each age group as artists of the year. Each has been engaged with the school, other students and their art throughout the year. They are: Valentina De Luca, Mia Sengsavang and Brooke Belknap.
Five-year-old Valentina was delighted to show her family, including her twin sister, what she’s been working on during her Saturday class.
“I like pencil crayon,” she said about her favourite medium, “because it has shades.”
“She’s always had an interest in art and this art school is really popular in Bradford,” said her mom, Giovanna.
Brooke, 13, decided she wanted to take her art to another level. When she and her family set out in search of local options they landed upon the school.
“I love it here,” Brooke said, adding that she’s been able to explore her interests further.
While she enjoys all the different approaches, she says there’s something about pen and ink, particularly on how she’s able to illustrate the flowers where she’s discovered she has a strength.
And while she’s passionate about art and intends to fully explore her talent at the school it will likely remain in the hobby column.
“I love doing art but I’m also academically focused,” she explained, adding that she’ll likely pursue math and/or science in the future.
A festive flair dominated the exhibition, featuring treats supplied by a local baker. There was also a raffle to help raise money to sponsor a child in the community to attend art classes.
The art school, now in its 12th year, has weekly after-school classes for children from Kindergarten right through to high school. There are also summer and March Break day camps, PA day camps and birthday parties as well as an artist-in-the-school program. The facility also hosts in-studio field trips where there is clay sculpting as well as an adult paint night.
While Provenzano essentially runs the operation along with a staff of seven, she continues to keep her hand in teaching art, which she’s done for 22 years.
Students work in five mediums: pen and ink, two pencil crayon techniques, oil pastel, acrylic on canvas and water colour painting. There is also cartooning, animation and clay sculpting, although there is no kiln. Instead they use an air-drying process that is followed with acrylic painting and special spray.
“Everything we do here is all about fine art,” said Provenzano.
The teaching, she adds, is hands-on so the students are guided as they create, providing artistic direction.
