New Rochelle Library Exhibit Features Student Art

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Paintings, sculptures, collages and drawings from all seven elementary schools in New Rochelle public school system are currently on display in the lobby of the New Rochelle Public Library for the 38th annual "Our Children, Our Artists" exhibition. Barbara Davis, the library's communications coordinator, said that the exhibit is the library's favorite.

“People come into this library, walk through the lobby and get these big smiles on their faces. You bring such joy with your artwork. And I have to say, this year, this exhibit is phenomenal. It's filled with happiness, filled with joy, filled with promise,” she said.

Marc Schneider, the district's director of art and music told parents about the benefits their children receive from art education.

“Your child engages and persists, envisions, observes, reflects, stretches and explores,” he said.

The works will be on display through Wednesday, May 8. A week later, on May 15, the exhibition will resume with works from New Rochelle High School and both district middle schools.

Sofia Escoffery, a fifth-grader at George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School, created a beach scene using pastels to depict a vibrant sunset blending red, pink, yellow and orange.

“You can make anything you want,” she said. “You can blend them to make any color. There's no limit.”

Jefferson Elementary School fifth-grader Sierra Daly's drawing, in contrast, was a still life study in black, white and shades of gray.

“I like the way we learned to shade things in to make it look more realistic,” she said.

Mia Mendoza, a Jefferson fourth-grader, said seeing the artwork from around the city can inspire other people to try their hand at creativity.

“It will help them see that if we can do it, and if they start it, they can do it, too,” she said.

The library staff also presented a reception for the children in honor of their work and National Children's Book week. It featured foods from favorite books such as Sun Bread and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

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