North's Art Club Virtual Show

North School Name Plate Project 

The 4th-6th grade students at North School created a “Name Plate,” highlighting an aspect of their identity. Like identity, making is a process that is both forward moving and reflective. Big transitions in our lives often emphasize this iterative process of identity forming, and so creative making is one important medium we can use to understand identity.  

As these Name Plates illustrate, sometimes exploring identity creates moments of clarity where some aspect of identity is settled enough to lead to a finished product. Other times, the making process itself leads to new insights that are not quite as clear and require a less finished product- one that can emerge more slowly over time and must be understood as part of the process rather than its completion.

Opening spaces for creative making that allows members of our community to express themselves is critical as we strive for more inclusive practices. Our exhibit celebrates these artists’ generosity, creativity, and willingness to engage openly, and we thank them for allowing us to be a part of it.  

The virtual art workshops were facilitated by Canvases for Communities, a student organization at Michigan State University. Since the COVID-19 pandemic limited opportunities for creative expression, members from Canvases for Communities planned weekly virtual art lesson for the students at North School, a local elementary school in Lansing, and will continue to host art workshops next year. The organization's goal is to empower those we work with and encourage them to find comfort in expressing their creativity.  

The virtual art workshops and the exhibit curation were facilitated by Dr. Nancy DeJoy, Anusha Mamidipaka, and Brandon Hartman of Canvases for Communities, a student organization at Michigan State University, and Jill Canny, a North School teacher. This exhibit displaying the Name Plates made by the students at North School is the result of a collaboration between Canvases for Communities, North School, and Michigan State’s Honors College. We hope you enjoy the students' artwork and their artist statements. 

  • Kamora

    Kamora (2008) 

    My Dog Coco, 2021 

    Fabric Easter eggs, clay, paint colors she mixed herself, pom-poms, googly eyes, sequins, glitter glue, stickers, letters (for her favorite words) and pipe cleaners.

    Artist Statement: 

    Kamora likes to swim and dress up very fancy. She does not like to get dirty. Her art represents what her dog Coco likes to do: play ball, eat heart snacks, shred her bed, and talk in her own language with Kamora. Coco sniffs shoes and she gives a good stink eye. Coco is a great napper. There’s lots of grass because Coco loves to go outside and take a walk. :) Coco was abused before she came to live with Kamora, and her family and they have been on a long journey together.

     

    Kamora (2018) 

    My Beauty in Beast Flower, 2021 

    Graphite Pencils on paper 

     

    Kamora (2008) 

    My Anime Sun Guy, 2021 

    Colored Pencils on paper 

  • Jeremiah

    Jeremiah (2008) 

    Kira, 2021 

    Pencil on paper 

    Artist Statement: 

    Jeremiah loves to draw Anime characters using pencil.

    Jeremiah (2008) 

    Josuke, 2021 

    Pencil on paper 

    Jeremiah (2008) 

    Jotaro, 2021 

    Pencil on paper

  • Avanna

     

    Avanna P. (2007)

    Untitled, 2021 

    Acrylic on paper 

    Avanna P. (2007)

    Untitled, 2021 

    Pencil on paper 

  • Jai'den

    Jai'den (2011) 

    Untitled, 2021 

    Artist Statement: 

    Ja’den likes to go outside, ride his skateboard, and explore places on the weekends. He likes to explore different types of art, especially painting. He likes to play games, so he wanted to create a piece with games. He wanted to create a composition where the words felt most natural. His favorite colors, but his number one favorite color is blue.

  • Isabella

    Isabella (2010) 

    Howl, 2021 

    Colored pencil on paper 

    Artist Statement: 

    Isabella likes to use colored pencils when she sketches. She loves wolves so drew Howl. In the previous slide the two pieces have rainbows. This is honor of Pride Month.

    Isabella (2010) 

    Happy Pride, 2021 

    Colored pencil on paper 

    Isabella (2010) 

    Jaguar, 2021 

    Colored pencil on paper 

  • Lily

    Lily (2010) 

    Untitled, 2021 

    Paint, crayon, and marker on paper 

    Lily (2010) 

    Untitled, 2021 

    Highlighter, crayon, and nail polish on paper 

     

  • Aziriah

    Aziriah (2011)

    Never Give Up, 2021 

    Highlighter and mixed media on paper 

    Artist Statement: 

    Aziriah’s favorite foods are rice and crab legs, not together. Never Give Up is the first thing that popped into her mind when she was painting.

  • Tiauna

    Tiauna 

    Sunset Rejoice, 2021 

    Acrylic on paper 

    Artist Statement: 

    Sunset Rejoice was based on a sunset that Tiauna saw outside her window. She used acrylic paints and blended the colors in this piece.

  • Amariyana

    Amariyana (2010)

    Blue Sky, 2021 

    Acrylic paint, letters, one googly eye, pom poms, glitter, sequins (for the bumpy road) on canvas 

    Artist Statement: 

    Amariyana wants to be an artist or a makeup artist when she grows up and wants to make her own nailpolish. She has made five paintings, and loves all types of colors but especially blue. In this painting, she includes clouds and grass because she loves going outside. She also includes pink houses because she loves the color pink too.

  • A’yanie

    A’yanie (2011) 

    Family, Friends and Teachers, 2021 

    Acrylic paint, felt

    Artist Statement: 

    A’yanie has four siblings. She enjoys doodling and writing. In this piece, she wanted to express how much she likes her family, friends and teachers. She used Sky blue, violet, and red because they are her favorite colors.

  • Leilani

    Leilani (2011) 

    Night Bird, 2021 

    Acrylic on canvas 

     

  • Savana

    Savana (2011) 

    Stay Safe, Don't Pass Away, 2021 

    Colored pencils on paper 

  • Andrew

    Andrew (2010)

    Future Controller, 2021 

    Colored pencil and stylist pen

    Artist Statement: 

    Andrew likes to draw anime. He also likes to read books. He just read Epic Fail and Get Into Gears Stilton.

    Andrew (2010) 

    Staircase Ghosts, 2021 

    Markers, pens, smoother on paper 

     

     

  • Ismail

    Ismail (2009) 

    Untitled, 2021 

    Pencil on paper 

  • Amir

    Amir (2008) 

    Gengi, 2021 

    Graphite pencil on paper 

  • Anusha

    Anusha 

    Untitled, 2021 

    Artist Statement: 

    Anusha is a senior studying Neuroscience at Michigan State University. She loves to teach art and encourage people to express their creativity! She decided to paint orcas because she loves learning about science, the environment, and the ocean. She hopes you all enjoy her piece!

  • Amita

    Amita 

    Untitled, 2021 

    Artist Statement: 

    Amita is a senior studying Human Biology at Michigan State University. She wanted to paint the beach because she loves the outdoors, nature, and the sun. Her favorite color is blue! She had so much fun working with you all this year!

  • Ms. Canny

    Ms. Canny 

    My Happy Place 

    Photograph 

    Artist Statement: 

    I prefer photography as a form of artistic expression. This was taken on a beach in Rhode Island sitting on a lifeguard chair. Friends and family are on the deck taking in the sunset.

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