Artwork by 25 children from area public schools is on display at Quinnipiac University’s 2024 Kaleidoscope of Creativity gallery at the School of Education.
On April 9, excited student artists, their families and public school art educators visited the newly hung art in the gallery. Refreshed annually with new student works, the wide variety of paintings, photographs and designs fills the Kaleidoscope of Creativity gallery in the School of Education lobby.
The gallery is on display year-round to inspire faculty, students, staff and members of the public visiting the North Haven Campus.
Art teachers from the School of Education partner schools selected the array of student work for the gallery. The student artists were celebrated during a special viewing reception where they received a certificate of recognition from the School of Education.
School of Education Dean Anne Dichele welcomed attendees and presented certificates to this year’s artists, representing students in kindergarten through grade 12. Dichele said it was a privilege to be able to honor the young artists and to demonstrate the importance of the arts in American education.
“Former First Lady Michelle Obama once said that arts education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be our nation’s leaders tomorrow, and we agree with that,” said Dichele. “These young people whom we celebrate today are clearly innovative thinkers and artists and they may lead the 21st century with their imagination and their talents.”
Dichele also thanked the program’s public education partners including Diana Blythe, art coordinator, North Haven Public Schools; Leslie Della Valle, director of fine and performing arts, Hamden Public Schools; Nicole Bimonte, art instructor, Fair Haven School; and Brenna VanSteenbergen, art instructor, Side by Side Charter School in South Norwalk.
All of the art on display in the gallery was matted and framed by School of Education graduate students in faculty member Alex Novak’s course on facilitating the arts.
Monica Cavender, associate professor of education, said that having student artwork on view at the School of Education is an uplifting experience for her and her master of arts in teaching students.
“It’s nice to be surrounded by the children’s artwork because that’s why we’re here, to work with the children,” said Cavender. “It’s really inspirational.”