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South Salt Lake Journal

COVID-19 can’t stop Granite Park’s art show

May 27, 2020 01:03PM ● By Bill Hardesty

By Bill Hardesty | [email protected]

Julia Bossi, an art teacher at Granite Park Junior High School and a 2020 Granite School District EXCEL winner, won’t let something like a school shutdown stop her from exhibiting some of her students' art.

Typically, GPJHS holds two art shows a year. A benefit of the school shutdown is that anyone with Internet access can view art from 12 of her students.

The GPJHS digital art show is part of a larger GSD digital art show, but the art on GPJHS’s website was chosen by Bossi.

While this is not a contest, each exhibitor will receive a high-end sketch book and color pencil set.

“The Maze of Life in 2020” is a pencil and color pencil piece done by Blanca, a seventh grader. Speaking of the piece, she wrote, “My idea behind my artwork is what is actually happening in life right now, the coronavirus. The virus represents the grey parts, dangerous. But the colors represent those who are helping to fight it. Doctors, governments, store workers, and everybody else. Everybody can be the colors, even you, your family, friends, and even your pet. Let’s be those colors.”

“Closed Doors” is a pencil, markers and a ruler piece done by Brianna, also a seventh  grader. She wrote, “Closed doors, you never know what goes on behind closed doors. Unless those doors are opened by ‘brave’ people. I came up with this idea while I was crying, I was upset because my mother had just yelled at me. It may look simple, but it holds a deep meaning.”

“The Forest” is an acrylic paint on canvas piece done by Brayan, another seventh grader. He wrote, “I was inspired by the beautiful forest when the sunset is so beautiful. I explored painting with acrylic paint, it is very easy to mix the paintings, I love to draw a lot, when I feel sad and I only draw and transmit my feelings in art it is very interesting. There is nothing more beautiful than art.”

In Bossi’s class, students don’t replicate art, they are free to create what is in their mind and heart.

Bossi wants to develop creative thinkers.

“Creative thinkers are in demand for future careers,” Bossi said.

She teaches what she calls “creative skills” of observing the smallest details, envisioning, innovating through exploration, and reflective self-evaluation.

In her classroom, there are many mediums such as pencils, paints and clay. Students think through what they want to create. They create and evaluate.

“The process is more important than the end product,” Bossi said.

Bossi also said that many students find their voice through art, which can help students navigate adolescence.

“Arts education not only prepares students for success in careers, it enriches and brings joy to our lives,” she said. “The process of creating art is deep learning that helps us to make creative connections and make sense of the world.”