For the month of June, South Brunswick High School students Arianna Iovine (‘27) and Mikayla Yi (‘28) put together an art show at the South Brunswick Senior Center. It was an opportunity presented to them by their art teacher, Ms. Laurie Budhu, who had previously displayed her own artwork at the center.
For Arianna, art has been an important part of her life for many years. She first became interested in art during elementary school after watching her older sister draw. Later, a book on abstract art given to her by her grandfather inspired her creativity further and encouraged her to create her own artistic style.
When the opportunity to create an exhibition arose, Arianna was excited to collaborate with her fellow art student and friend, Mikayla. Even though the two artists have different styles, Arianna said it was rewarding to see how their work came together in a shared space. “It was fun seeing the different styles of art we could put together,” she said.
Preparing for the exhibition required weeks of planning which included choosing the right art pieces, buying frames, and gathering the right materials to display the pieces. Arianna shared that one of the biggest challenges was making sure they had the proper supplies to hang the artwork securely.
The show features a variety of pieces crafted with ink, watercolor, oil pastel and acrylic paint. Visitors can view artwork depicting animals, landscapes, portraits and scenes inspired from travelling. Among Arianna’s displayed works are watercolor paintings of tigers, jellyfish studies, an ink drawing of a scene in Italy and an acrylic portrait of her dog.
Out of all the pieces she displayed, the portrait of her dog holds the most personal meaning. Arianna explained that her dog has always provided comfort to her during stressful times and has the unique ability to communicate emotions without words.
Rather than focusing on a single theme, Arianna hops visitors will create their own interpretations of the artwork. She believes art is a form of communication that allows each viewer to connect with a piece in a different way and find their own meaning within it. Although only a few seniors were present while the artwork was being installed, she said those who stopped by admired the pieces and offered their encouraging smiles.
This art show was made possible through the collaboration of Arianna and Mikayla, with guidance from Ms. Budhu and assistance from Arts Commission Gallery Volunteer Sadi Mizrahi. Their month long display showcases the creativity and artistic talent of South Brunswick High School students while also giving community members the opportunity to appreciate real artwork.
