Celebrating Creativity and Community, Westpark Elementary Hosts First-Ever Art Gala
by Dan Mullins
Westpark Elementary School recently held its first-ever art gala, transforming the school gymnasium into a vibrant museum showcasing nearly 5000 pieces of student art.
The event, organized by Ms. Giulia Carosielli, affectionately known to the students as Madame C, was a resounding success, drawing students, parents, teachers and members of the school community.
“This has never been done at Westpark before,” noted Ms. Carosielli. “I’ve done art shows at Kingsdale and Thorndale, but this is our first here. It took two days to set up, but I’ve been preparing since March. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I wanted everything to be just right.”
Grade six students invented their own planets and composed accompanying music, integrating their projects with lessons from the music teacher, Ms. Rachel Boileau, which was integrated into their planet-themed works, and incorporated discussion of the composer Gustav Holst and his orchestral suite “The Planets”.
Students expressed their enthusiasm and pride in their contributions. Neel Patel, one of the young artists, said, “We were trying to make a rug, and she gave us lines to draw. After that, we painted. I liked the lines I made.” Neel admitted that art isn’t his main interest, but he enjoyed the process and found the event well-organized.
Olivia, a fifth grader, displayed her drawing inspired by “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” using pastels and a sharpie.
“Art is my favorite class, followed by gym and science,” she shared. Olivia found the gala enjoyable and appreciated the opportunity to showcase her work.
Mila, in grade 2, expressed her love for painting and art. “It’s very fun to do. I like painting because I always do art at my house,” she said. Mila was particularly proud to see her artwork displayed at the show.
Besides the thousands of 2D works spanning various media and themes, each grade level also contributed unique 3D pieces, with grade one creating flowers, grade two making ceramic clay pumpkins, grade three designing sculptures, including a war collection and polka dot princesses, grade four crafting hockey masks, and grade five producing fruit out of clay.
The event also highlighted the collaborative efforts of Ms. Carosielli’s former colleagues and friends, who helped set up and sell raffle tickets. The many prizes, beautiful display, and even the innovative bidding process were practically another artform.
Ms. Carosielli reconnected with Concordia University’s Art Department to host student teachers this year. One of these student teachers, Gabriele Ventrone, played a significant role by spearheading the creation of Ted Harrison landscapes with the students during the winter semester.
Chelsea, another student, talked about the challenges and satisfaction of creating landscape art using ripped paper instead of scissors. “It was a little challenging, but we made it work,” she said, adding that she felt happy and relaxed while making art.
Ms. Carosielli, who has been teaching for 26 years, received significant support from the school’s principal, Ms. Diana Martire. Ms. Martire played a crucial role in making the art program a reality. “There was always a position in the past, but it was filled by replacements. Ms. Martire finally gave me the opportunity to build the art program,” Ms. Carosielli shared. “I’ve been waiting to teach art since forever, so I made the switch over the summer and dove into it.”
Ms. Carosielli’s dedication and passion for art shone through, leaving a lasting impact on students and attendees. Reflecting on the event, Ms. Carosielli said, “I’m beyond pleased with the results. This is perfection to me. I thought I lost my touch, but I still got it. It’s a proud moment for me.”
Westpark Elementary’s art gala not only celebrated the students’ creativity but also reinforced the importance of arts in education, fostering a sense of community and accomplishment among the students. The success of this inaugural event sets a promising precedent for future art shows at the school.
