Budding artists' work shines at gallery

On Friday I attended a reception for St. Mary-St. Michael School students whose artwork is on exhibit this week at the Valley Arts Council's Gallery@37 in Derby.
I wrote a story about the program, taught by Valley Arts Council President Rich DiCarlo and Vice President Steve DiRienzo, and I was interested to see their paintings professionally displayed in the gallery.
 

Rich DiCarlo 'talks art' with St. Mary-St. Michael School students.

Most of the 27 students attended the reception, along with proud parents and grandparents. Their work looked fantastic up on the wall - so different than when it was "in progress" in the classroom.

Students' artwork brightens gallery wall. Photos by Steve DiRienzo

 
The after-school art program, funded by the Orange-based Jamie A. Hulley Arts Foundation, was quite popular, school principal Linda Coppola said.

Their work will be up through this coming weekend at the gallery, 37 Elizabeth St., Derby. Check it out if you can. You won't be disappointed.  

It's clear the students learned a lot about art (the program included a trip to the Yale Art Gallery) and it's also clear they enjoyed expressing themselves on canvas.

The next van Gogh, Picasso, or Monet may be in our midst.

Never say never.