Student artwork on display at Thunder Bay Arts Gallery | News, Sports, Jobs
News Photo by Darby Hinkley
Avery Bates, 13, stands next to her painting of lips, on display with other student artwork at Thunder Bay Arts Council Gallery now through springtime.
ALPENA — Avery Bates feels good about having her artwork on display for the public to enjoy.
“It’s exciting,” Bates said of having her artwork in a public art gallery. “I didn’t think people really enjoyed my art. It was just something I did for fun. But, once it got out, I realized I’m pretty good at it.”
The 13-year-old’s painting of lips and a nose is one of 30 pieces of student artwork on display at Thunder Bay Arts Council Gallery on Chisholm Street in downtown Alpena.
“I used acrylic paint,” she said of the lips painting. “It was just something I did in my free time.”
She explained why she enjoys painting.
“I think it’s really relaxing,” Bates said. “I like seeing the paint flow on the canvas. I like the product after you’re finished. It’s just a fun hobby.”
Bates, an eighth-grader at Thunder Bay Junior High, had a piece in last year’s student exhibit as well.
“We’re just really proud of her,” said Bates’ mom, Jessica Eller. “Every day she just gets better. It just amazes us. It’s really fun to watch her talent grow.”
“I do give a lot of props to my art teacher, Mr. K.,” Avery Bates said. “He’s helped me a lot. He’s just an amazing guy.”
She is referring to Kyle Kieliszewski, art instructor at TBJH.
“It gives their vision, their personal expression, a public avenue to reach out to others for consideration,” Kieliszewski said of having the student’s work on display. “It also lets them know that their voice is going to be heard.”
He said seeing their work in the midst of a gallery full of professional artwork is a definite confidence booster.
“It’s a statement on the quality of their own personal skills,” he added. “Thunder Bay Arts Council is a phenomenal organization, very much needed. I’m so grateful for them. They showcase and feature local students’ work as much as they can.”
Keyon Harvey, 12, also has his artwork in the show at TBA Gallery.
“That was one of my superhero projects,” he said of his artwork. “I was pretty proud of it since it seemed nice.”
His piece is a drawing of cityscapes with another paper superhero glued onto the cityscape, “making it look like the superhero and villain are fighting,” Harvey said.
The sixth-grader said, “the good guy is a futuristic cop-like person, and the bad one was modeled after Thanos,” an alien villain from Marvel. “I like drawing cityscapes, and using my creativity to make stuff. I’d like to try new elements as well, like painting.”
Meaghan Black, assistant principal at TBJH, said it’s a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the students for working so hard.
“I think it’s really important for the kids to see that their art is truly art,” Black said, adding that it instills confidence in the students. “We love to display in schools, but to put it out into the community is really special.”
Black is grateful for Kieliszewski’s work with the students.
“Kudos to Kyle, because he has, over the last several years, really grown our art program,” Black said. “They are truly producing art. He’s really shown them the process.”
