Initiative to introduce students to various forms of art while sharing their accomplishments with the community
Albany, NY – Students from LaSalle School on Thursday opened a 35-piece art exhibit at the Daughters of Sarah Senior Community – the first stop in what is intended to be a traveling display through the Capital Region.
The project is part of a school initiative to introduce students to various forms of art while sharing their accomplishments with the community. The students created their art using a variety of methods and mediums, including paint, mosaic, pen and ink, photography, Photoshop, metals, sculpture and more. Their work is being displayed at The Massry Residence on the Daughters of Sarah campus on Washington Avenue Ext.
Daughters of Sarah residents were joined by board members of both the LaSalle School and the Daughters of Sarah Foundation.
“The overarching theme of both the LaSalle School and the Daughters of Sarah is to enhance quality of life”, said Murray Massry, a LaSalle benefactor and a Daughters of Sarah Foundation board member. “The art we’re seeing here today enhances the quality of life for the viewer as well as the artist. It’s amazing to see this collaboration.”
LaSalle School is a full-service residential treatment center serving at-risk adolescents. Youth attending LaSalle are from school districts and social service programs in the Greater Capital Region and beyond, including the Hudson Valley, North Country and points east and west.
“They’ve had significant circumstances in their lives that they have been asked to overcome,” said LaSalle School Executive Director Bill Wolff, addressing the 100 residents, students and others representing LaSalle School and Daughter of Sarah. “Our job is to help them realize that what has happened to them in the past does not define what they will be in the future.”
Student artists were on hand to describe the conception and production of their artwork (pictured). One student, Titian, created a glass portrait, “Revolutionary Suicide,” to commemorate Huey Newton’s 1973 autobiography depicting African American life.
“There are a lot of things in the book that remind me of who I am and where I come from,” said Titian, who was one of six students representing the 11 artists whose work is on display. “It inspires my art,” he told the audience.
The Massry Residence, which showcases art exhibits throughout the year, welcomed LaSalle School students.
“You can see from the turnout that there is a real interest in the arts,” said Joan Healey, Daughters of Sarah chief operating officer (inset). “Bringing people from the outside draws a very positive response from our residence, especially the youth in our community.”
Colleen Weisl, director of the LaSalle School Art Department, agreed. “Art gives our students the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings in a non-verbal way,” she said. “In that way, artistic expression is a less intimidating way to release emotions, which can be very therapeutic for them.”