Lidl Showcases Young Petrides Artists
A devoted art teacher at the Michael J. Petrides School recently teamed up with the grocery store Lidl on the creation of a beautiful gallery entitled, “Everyday Colors: A Still-Life Journey with Lidl” to showcase his talented students’ artwork.
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K-12 art teacher Gerard Ucelli found himself inspired while checking out at Lidl one day after spotting a community board at the store, so he reached out and successfully secured an in-kind donation from the management to support students in creating still-life drawings and paintings featuring Lidl’s products.
In just one month, 13 students had the opportunity to show off their work on that community board at Lidl, where shoppers can now admire the young artists’ work.
The exhibit, titled “Everyday Colors: A Still-Life Journey with Lidl,” warmly invites spectators to dive into a colorful adventure with ordinary objects, all through the unique perspectives of high school students from Michael J. Petrides. Using watercolors, colored pencils, and markers, these talented young artists creatively transform everyday items from Lidl, a supermarket chain we all recognize, into enchanting art pieces. This exhibit highlights the beauty in objects we see daily in our homes like produce, paper goods, and more.
“It is an honor to build this partnership with Lidl and giving our high school students the platform they deserve. It’s imperative to launch their capabilities at a young age for them to realize how far they can go in the arts with the right amount of commitment, dedication, and talent. I’m grateful for Michael J. Petrides trusting my process and vision for making their artwork come to fruition outside of our school,” Ucelli said.
The gallery is now bursting with a delightful mix of still-life pieces, each exhibiting the student’s sharp eye for detail and unique take on art. In this exhibit, everyday grocery items like fresh fruits, snacks, and household necessities are elevated to subjects of thoughtful creativity. The students chose these items because they reflect our daily lives, inviting us to appreciate the beauty in the ordinary things we often overlook.
Erick Varga, Assistant Principal expresses gratitude for this entire project stating, “The Petrides school’s talented arts students have been given a wonderful opportunity to design artwork for Lidl. This collaboration not only showcases their creativity and artistic skills but also provides them with real-world experience in contributing to professional projects. We are incredibly proud of our students’ dedication and ingenuity, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to Lidl for their unwavering support of arts education. This project has a profound impact on our school and the community, inspiring pride and fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts. Lidl’s commitment to partnering with local schools helps nurture young talent while enriching the community with unique and meaningful designs. We are deeply grateful for Lidl’s investment in our students and their vision for creating opportunities that connect education, creativity, and community impact.”
Lidl conveyed their enthusiasm and gratitude for the beautiful gallery in a statement: “At Lidl US, we’re dedicated to supporting our communities. We’re fortunate to have team members like Andrew Bouskill, who proactively seek opportunities to engage with our local schools and communities. As the Store Manager of our Staten Island location, Bouskill partnered with Michael J. Petrides High School to create “Everyday Colors: A Still Life Journey with Lidl.” This exhibit, displayed behind the registers, showcases vibrant explorations of Lidl US’ freshest items, as seen through the eyes of high school students. We’re proud to be part of the Staten Island community and even prouder to have people like Andrew Bouskill, who highlight the exceptional communities we serve.”
This partnership represents how teachers go above and beyond for their students and work with the community to create something beautiful. The exhibit “Everyday Colors: A Still-Life Journey with Lidl” is now up and displayed for shoppers at the Lidl Grocery Store at 283 Platinum Avenue in the Heartland Village/New Springville area of Staten Island.
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