By Henry Bryant and Kris Raper
Unique artwork is currently on display at the East Atlanta Library. The art, in various media, was created by students from kindergarten through fifth grade attending Burgess-Peterson Academy in East Atlanta. The elementary school is an Atlanta Public School.
The art program is led by instructor Cosmo Whyte, who graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. The young artists explore art elements, principles, and techniques in weekly art classes. For many of them, this is the first time their work has been shown in a public venue.
Students whose art is displayed in this exhibit are: kindergarteners Amir Godbolt and Audrey Shubert; first-grader Xavier Flaunnary; third-grader Zaria Graves; fourth-graders Gevonte Ashley, Paris Dorsey, Anthony Heard, Danielle Liburd, and Arlesha McCullum; and fifth-graders Ahmad Blackwell and Chase Shakur.
Burgess-Peterson Academy was in the news because of the students’ gardening activities. First Lady Michele Obama visited the beautiful facility earlier this year to inspect the organic garden in the school’s courtyard. Students also participated in the recent Friends Gardening Day at this library. The student artists captured some plant life in their artwork.
A reception was held at the library April 20 to present awards. Ahmad Blackwell won Best of Show: $25 for his brightly hued drawing. Honorable Mentions went to Amir Godbolt for his still-life drawing and Arlesha McCullum for her surrealist collage. Judges for the show were Kirkwood illustrator Wayne Carey, SAND multi-media artist Leslie Smith, and East Atlanta painter Charles Turner.
The show is presented by the Friends of East Atlanta Library and Atlanta Fulton County. It will remain on display at the library through May 20. Ask at the library circulation desk for access to the meeting room to see the exhibit.
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