Have you noticed, Art teachers have been giving students enrolled in an art class a chance to show off their work. They did this by transforming the 500 hallway into an art gallery. According to Timberlane art teacher, Ms. Palmeri, this started in 2023 when administration came to the art teachers to ask if they wanted a place to display the pieces students worked so hard to create. Soon after all the art teachers had a meeting and worked out how they would do this. Each art teacher has two walls to display their class’ drawings, pottery, and sculptures. They are still in the process of growing this gallery and finding new ways to hang up art. The Art Honors Society also works to help display art and find ways to make the gallery better.
Before the gallery was created, students would just take their art work home right after being submitted or put them up in smaller display areas, some students would even throw it away. Now students have a way to show their artwork off to their peers and teachers under the bright lights. Senior Sean Landry said, “I made a colorful clay fish in Mrs. Manni’s pottery class. It was a lot of fun to make and I’m glad I could display it in the school for my friends to see, otherwise it would have just collected dust in my house.” This shows the opportunity students have to feel included and represented in the school.
Though this had a great start, there have recently been a few challenges due to the budget cut. Art teachers have been struggling finding money in their budget to buy new supplies and find new ways to hang up art. Art teacher Mrs. Palmieri said, “We are continuing to expand this gallery but have had a slight step back with the budget cut and not being able to purchase new materials to display our art. We have been thinking about adding shelves to the windows, putting up cork boards to put behind the art, and finding a new way of hanging up the projects due to some of the paint being ripped off the walls.”
This gallery is still a work in progress but has had a great impact on Timberlane Regional High School. Walking down the 500 hallways you see so many people stopping to look at their friends’ art projects. So next time you find yourself in the 500 hallway, either walking to class or heading to lunch, stop and look around at all of your friends’ amazing art projects.
