Student gallery builds art skills

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Art students at Buffalo Grove High School are learning career skills such as curating, marketing and event planning with the recent debut of the student-operated One Grove Gallery.

A fine arts component of Township High School District 214's Career Pathways program, the gallery also is intended to showcase student art work.

"We've gotten to be part of the decision-making, and have a lot more control over the gallery than most students do with other activities," said junior Mya Soskin, 16. "Being a part of the art program at Buffalo Grove has given me a new perspective, and my grades have gone way up. And when I'm creative, it lowers my anxiety, which is nice."

The gallery, which was established in a former dean's office, was funded by a district grant, and has involved students in all aspects of its creation, from the space's layout and design to the gray carpet selected to cover the floor and walls, art teacher Jordie Field said.

"We've all been art teachers here for years, and we started talking about, 'let's get a gallery space,'" Fields said. "This was a collaboration with the high school's administration, staff and our students to make a viable plan."

For junior Emily Sidlow, 16, that meant polishing such skills as measuring the new gallery space and figuring out how to adhere the art with special Velcro fasteners to the walls.

"My dad's a plumber," said Emily, explaining her affinity for building design. "When you're in charge of curating, you have to start getting the work out there for people to see."

On a recent afternoon, the gallery featured an eclectic array of work created by AP Art students, including senior Kasia Pilat, 18. She explained her appreciation for surrealism, including an ink drawing depicting her interpretation of a view from one of the school's windows.

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