Over the years, many students from TJ have had their work showcased in the Citywide High School Visual Arts Exhibition. artwork by Elizabeth Zwerin
Students from across the Denver area will showcase their artwork in an upcoming Citywide event.
For many artists in high school, finding a way to get their art into the world can be difficult. Outside of school-organized art shows, though, there aren’t many events specifically directed toward young artists. However, Citywide Arts at Denver Public Schools aims to provide students across all art disciplines with opportunities to share their work with the world. Citywide organizes a variety of events throughout the year that students of all ages are able to participate in, ranging from dance and theater workshops to music festivals. Soon, the annual High School Visual Arts Exhibition will begin, where artwork created by high school students from schools across DPS will be displayed for the whole city to see and appreciate.
Citywide has been in operation for around 100 years. Lauren Garcia, the Citywide Arts Events Coordinator, explained that “Citywide offers students across DPS the opportunity to engage in free accessible arts events across all arts contents.” By participating in Citywide events, students are given “the opportunity to create and play, engage, build community, and just really own that creative bone that they have.” In addition, students perform or see their work displayed in prestigious locations around the city, such as with the recent Secondary Vocal Festival, which was held at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. Exploring their art in such a prestigious setting gives students the confidence they need going forward in their careers as artists.
One Citywide event that some Thomas Jefferson High School students will be participating in is the upcoming High School Visual Arts Exhibition. This event allows students the chance to display their artwork in Denver Central Library. The Visual Arts Exhibition is a non-juried exhibition, meaning that teachers choose which students they want to send to the art show. Up to ten participants are allowed per school, and seniors have the opportunity to present a portfolio of their work. TJ Ceramics teacher Lisa Freedberg and Drawing and Painting teacher Timi Biermann each selected several students to represent TJ. Their artwork, along with the works created by students at other DPS schools, will be displayed in the Teen Space in Denver Central Library from March 18 until April 15th, with a reception on March 29th. Based on projections from previous years, around one hundred students from across the district will likely participate.
According to Shannon Murphy, the Visual Arts Instructional and Curriculum Specialist at Citywide, participating in the Visual Arts Exhibition is a great experience for students. “It’s a professional experience,” she explained. “It’s part of learning to become an artist. Seeing your art exhibited, being able to talk about it, writing about your art, it’s a professional development experience.” She also believes that it’s an honor for students to be able to see their artwork in a public space that’s not just “[their] school, it’s for the whole city.” Garcia emphasized the impact that seeing artwork created by young people can have on the residents of Denver. “I think often younger voices kind of just get shut out, especially in the arts world,” she said. “It’s a really exciting opportunity for students to be able to share their voice, share their works, share their story with other schools and people who are just passing by.”
The main thing people can do to support the artists who have work in the art show is simply to attend with an open and curious mind. The artists put a lot of effort and love into the pieces being displayed, and getting support and encouragement from family and friends can be so important for a young artist. Find some time in the next month to attend the Visual Arts Exhibition to support the artists in the TJ community!
