The State Charter Schools Foundation of Georgia (SCSF), a nonprofit foundation dedicated to supporting high-quality state charter schools in Georgia, presents a juried virtual exhibition of visual art created by 220 students across the state. Students were invited to submit their 2-D art to the SCSF’s first annual Art of Connection – Exhibition of Student Art. State charter school students in grades K-12 were encouraged to express how they stay connected to their community and others. All entries are featured in the virtual art gallery located online at scsfga.org/art, and winners will receive an Amazon gift card and permanent exhibition of their art at the State Charter Schools Foundation office.

           

“Art gives us a way to process our experiences and emotions,” said Michele Neely, SCSF President. “These students have offered us a glimpse into their world and the ways that they have tried to find connections during a difficult time. These entries show resilience and hope, but they also display complex emotions and concerns.” expressed Neely.

           

Many entries focused on connections with nature and others represented ways that people help each other and their communities. Katilyn Lee, 1^st place winner in the High School division and student at the Academy for Classical Education in Macon, wrote, “I implement societal change by empowering my community through volunteer work. On Halloween, I worked alongside fellow Maconites to clean up invasive species. To illustrate helping my community, a gloved hand is depicted pulling Chinese tallow, a common invasive species. Rather than showing my face, I opted to paint a hand to emphasize the importance and value of anyone’s efforts toward their community. My efforts to rid a park of its invasive species may not seem significant, but by providing small acts of kindness, I give back to my community with the freedom to enjoy a cleaner, more welcoming environment.” Selini Karunanayake, a 3^rd grader at Brookhaven Innovation Academy and winner of the Elementary division, stated simply, “Sometimes you have to look up from your screen and connect with the nature around you.”